Reserve hiring maintainers for Fighter Associate Program

Citizen Airman, August, 2004

AirForce Reserve Command is ring F-15C and F-16C aircraft maintainers to serve at three activeduty bases in support of its Fighter Associate Program.

The 307th Fighter Squadron, a Reserve unit at Langley AFB, Va., is looking for experienced crew chiefs and avionics and electro-environmental maintainers to fill several part-time and full-time positions. The jobs are in Air Force Reserve detachments at Langley AFB; Eglin AFB, Fla.; and Shaw AFB, S.C.

People interested in the part-time positions will be expected to serve beyond the minimal traditional reserve duty requirements, which is one weekend per month and two additional weeks during the year.

The Fighter Associate Program is designed to retain experienced aircraft maintainers and pilots. Some of them may have separated or retired from active duty, while others may already be in the Air Force Reserve. Together they can provide training and continuity for various active-duty units within Air Combat Command.

"The primary goal of the program is to bolster the experience levels within the active-duty units to achieve maximum mission effectiveness," said Col. Elizabeth Grote, AFRC's director of logistics.

"Air Force Reserve Command can help meet this goal because reservists can make an immediate impact on the Air Force fighter community with their years of experience and extensive training," she said. "ACC and AFRC partner together in combat, so it makes good sense to train together here at home."

"This program is a win-win scenario for both the Air Force Reserve Command and the active-duty Air Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Cosimo Carbone, 307th FS maintenance superintendent, a reservist with 22 years of experience. "It's an integral part of the Total Force initiative shaping the future of the Air Force."

A typical detachment consists of a full-time detachment commander, three part-time pilots, two full-time maintainers, four part-time maintainers and one full-time administrator.

Sergeant Carbone has more information on available maintenance positions at 757-225-8773 or DSN 575-8773. (AERC News Service)