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Active duty, Guard, Reserve: One awesome force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Callahan
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Michael T. Moseley, recently said, "You can't look at an Airman and tell if he or she is active, Guard or Reserve. We all wear the same uniform, do the same jobs and help make this Air Force the best in the world."

Nowhere is that more appropriate than here, said Sather Air Base officials.

"It seems the Air Force has found out that we are a reliable and capable force," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard King, the 447th Air Expeditionary Group superintendent, and the 107th Air Refueling Wing, New York Air National Guard command chief. "Between us, our active duty and Reserve brothers, the Air Force is one awesome force, and no one can touch us."

Since the first day the 107th ARW members stepped of the plane in Baghdad, Iraq, they have been making an impact on the Sather AB mission. The 107th ARW arrived with 150 members covering 15 different job specialties.

While some members of the unit dig trenches for essential utilities, others have valuable command, control and administration positions.

"The 107th (ARW) assumed many of the key leadership positions in the 447th AEG and executed a flawless transition from the last (air expeditionary force) team," said Col. Fred Cheney, the 447th AEG commander. "The Niagara Falls team integrated seamlessly with their active duty, joint service and coalition partners."

"The 107th's contribution to Sather (AB) is huge," said Capt. Bryan Dalporto, the 447th Air Expeditionary Group executive officer and a deployed 107th ARW member. "We account for more than one-third the total force here. We've got a lot of folks doing a lot of important jobs."

Many of those 107th ARW team members play a vital role in the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, said Captain Dalporto, at least 90 percent of the unit is comprised of Guardsmen.

"Sather (AB) is the stepping off point for many units in Iraq," said Lt. Col. Patrick Roemer, the 447th ECES commander and full-time base civil engineer for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Base when not performing the same role in the Guard. "The 107th (ARW) guys are instrumental in maintaining the base, and it's very important that Sather (AB) stays functional."

The Guard unit is no stranger to Southwest Asia. The unit has deployed more than a dozen times since Sept. 11, 2001, and many of its members who are currently deployed are on their fourth or fifth deployment to the area.

"Since (Sept. 11) the total force concept has really come into play," Chief King said. "Within 24 hours of the Sept. 11 attacks, we were mobilized."

Members of the 107th ARW are aware of how important their role is here, they said. Activating and deploying as a Guardsman has its challenges, though. For many, it means leaving their "regular" jobs.

"Traditional Guard members leave full-time employment in the civilian sector and have to adjust back to a military frame of mind," Chief King said. "We've adapted very well. We're right back in the fight when we get a chance."

Although during this trip to the desert members joked about the unusual weather.

When the team first stepped off the plane at Sather AB cold drizzle covered their faces, forcing them to squint to see the air base around them, they said. They felt the thick mud move under their feet and the gravel stick to the bottom of their boots and thought, "This is the desert?"

During their first week on base it snowed. Some joked they brought it with them.

Despite never anticipating the chill in the air and the mud, Airmen of the 107th ARW immediately got to work.

"We're doing all the work we're supposed to do in order to get the job done," said Tech. Sgt. Nick Dodge, a 447th ECES production controller, who performs the same job as a Department of Defense civilian. "I don't think it really matters that we're Guard. You come here and it's like one big family. You put everything to the side and get it done -- whatever it takes -- that's our motto."

And even though the phone doesn't stop ringing and the jobs don't stop coming, the 447th ECES gets it done every time, said Sergeant Dodge.

"The team from the 107th ARW hit the road running upon their arrival at Sather AB," Colonel Cheney said. "I have extremely high confidence that they will be key contributors to making this one of the most successful AEF teams in the history of Sather AB!"