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Show 12 H.l rop Times 1 MISSION Feb. 1, 1991 Reservists more than weekend warriors by It. "Don's an extremely organized person," said Mr. Tarlton. "He lives out of his daily planner, and I think that's how he manages to juggle all that he does without dropping any of the balls. Really, I don't know what we'd do w4.hout him." That dependence upon IMAs is a common theme at Hill. Capt. Debra Watts, 2849th Air Base Group Services Squadron commander, also has a volunteer reservist on staff. First Lieutenant Joyce Tolliver has done more than 90 days duty since October, also in a backfill position. She too has made herself more than merely helpful. Says Captain Watts, "I am convinced that reservists are professionals to the exbone. They have the long-terthe perience to train others; they know history of what works, what doesn't and why; and they provide a level of judgment that's indispensable." Lieutenant Tolliver served four years active duty, all as a Services officer, and has had no doubts about being a reservist. "I still wanted to be a part of the Air Force after I separated. It's important to me to do this," she said. Lieutenant Tolliver works as Col. Rocky Raab H.tito? Times contr.Duttng writer Before the events of early August, the term "reservist" may have been commonly defined as someone who trained for military duty on occasional weekends and for two weeks each year. In August, the impression shifted to someone who had been involuntarily mobilized for deployment to Operation Desert Shield. But it might surprise many to learn that more than half of all Air Force individual mobilization augmentee reservists now on active duty are serving voluntarily, without having been recalled. IMAs are reservists net assigned to Reserve units, but who hold assignments with active duty units. In times of crisis or mobilization, they augment those active duty staffs. Operation Desert Storm is a prime example of how the IMA system works. According to Air Force figures, just more than 2.500 of the 4,200 IMAs now on active duty are volunteers. In fact, there are more IMA volunteers than the Air Force can utilize, and the service is not seeking any additional volunteers. At Hill, some 30 individual mobilization augmentees are on active duty tours with Ogden Air Logistics Center alone, and many more with other units. These volunteers are filling in for others who are deployed. Some, like TSgt. Don Murphy, are doing the jobs of more than one. "Don is filling three positions in disaster preparedness," said supervisor Bill Tarlton. "He's actually doing about half of the staff's work since Desert Storm." An air guardsman and then reservist since 1986, Murphy had seven years active duty, and now works in the computer department of the Veterans Hospital in Salt Lake City. That is, when he's not pulling three jobs here. "My bosses at the hospital weren't too crazy about this when Desert Shield started, but they've come around since, and now they're supportive," said Sergeant Murphy. Sergeant Murphy worked three months full time at his Reserve position, and now is volunteering two days each week, mostly conducting training classes in disaster preparedness. bit stricter on inthan people are used to," terpretation said MSgt. Kirk Collier, an Idaho port of entry officer when not on IMA duty. "That's because almost all of us are that 66 I am convinced that reservists are professionals to the bone... they provide a level of judgment that's indispensable. 99 Copt. Debra Watts 289rh A.r Baie Grout) Servicei Squadron commander to performance, once they're on duty, you can't tell a reservist from an active." That anonymity may hold in most positions, but not at Hill's main gate. Look carefully at the security policeman who waves you by, and note his or her rank. A master sergeant pulling gate duty? If so, you can bet it's a reservist, according to Capt. Cris operations officer. We have more than 60 IMAs pulling duty, a sales clerk in Ogden in her civilian about 15 at a time, in security police," life, and she admits that her bosses he said. "And they're pulling all types have also overcome their initial con- of duty, from gate duty to patrol and cerns to become highly supportive of desk jobs." her Desert ShieldDesert Storm Captain DeYoung is another service. who finds himself highly deAs the only other officer in Services manager on his IMA volunteers. besides Captain Watts, Lieutenant pendent "IMAs are a lifesaver for me," he said. Tolliver is responsible for force "Without them, we'd have to minimize management, mortuary affairs, SIMS or eliminate many of our computer systems, readiness, man- functions. We might have to close power, budget and more. "I'd be do- some gates at certain hours, or it ing two jobs here 24 hours a day might take us longer to respond to without her," said Captain Watts. "If calls." my regular forces were to be cut beBut with IMAs pulling day cause of a drawdown, I'd definitely full law enforcement services tours, look for more reservists to help me do are being maintained. That may be a my mission. In fact, I think reservists good newsbad news proposition for will be in such demand that people will base residents and workers. "I'm told be begging to get them in the future. And why not, when many of them are ;.;,; ":..'v'. better trained in a given job than active duty members." , That is because IMAs tend to keep assignments for many years, whereas the active duty staff members transfer every few years. "Reservists are a source of corporate knowledge for when the active duty force moves on," said Captain Watts. "When it comes De-Youn- non-essenti- al non-emergen- 60-9- 0 g, uniformed officers in civilian life, and we tend to enforce laws rigidly." Captain DeYoung puts that civilian experience in a positive light. "Many of our IMAs bring us the latest in police theory, practice and knowledge that the rnilitary wouldn't otherwise get for quite some time," he said. "They also come in fully qualified, meaning we don't have to lose any time in training." That experience and training comes from a wide spectrum of law enforcement fields. Hill had IMAs on duty from city police dpartments, state police, the border patrol and from the Internal Revenue Service. And like TSgt. Clifford and Sgt. Terry Helms, Hill's security police augmentees include a large age span as well. The Helmses are an unusual fatherson duo. "People used to joke, 'Here comes your dad,' when they saw our names, but they didn't realize they were right," said Terry. "I'm proud to serve not only as an IMA, but next to my father as well." Pride is an important part of motivation for many IMAs, it seems. "I'm finally doing what I've trained for all these years," said MSgt. Kirk Collier, Reserve veteran. "I feel good a about being on active duty and doing a vital job." MSgt. Keith Centner, a border patrolman in San Diego, added, "I think people should realize that it's not just the deployed people who are sacrificing for Desert Storm. IMAs are also separated from their families and jobs. What's more, they're doing it as 16-ye- volunteers." Editor's nolat Colonel Raab wrote this article last month while assigned to the S8Sth TFW Public Affairs Office. ': ' ' .,.,...,-.- '' V- ? A) - - y 0H' f hf . l Jr s ' ' tvfe I ft 'J 7 U father, like son 7 iKSSffiS - U t . '""""""--"-- "V" - - Mr " " - at Like ar ' .., 7 we may be a ? S. Air Force Photot by It. Col. Rocky Roob TSgt. Clifford, above, and Sgt. Terry Helms are a unique fatherson duo of individual mobilization augmentee reservists at Hill AFB helping the 2849th Security Police Squadron. They are two of many IMAs who are serving volun- tv , , f , , , ,t A.m,im .1 , illlll' |