Final step in ORI prep

by Col. Eric Overturf
442nd Fighter Wing Commander



Col. Eric S. Overturf is the commander of the 442nd Fighter Wing, an A-10 Thunderbolt II Air Force Reserve unit at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo / Courtesy photo)

8/23/2011 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- It's hard to believe that summer is almost over, but it must be true because my daughter is starting high school this month. It's been a busy summer for the 442nd Fighter Wing, and our outstanding Citizen Airmen are doing great things around the globe.

The 442nd Civil Engineer Squadron is finishing up combat skills training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and will soon be on their way to Afghanistan for a joint expeditionary tasking deployment to help set up and maintain the infrastructure of coalition bases.

Pilots, maintainers and support personnel from the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale AFB, La., recently returned from their annual tour in Alaska where they honed their skills on the Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

The 924th FG, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., amped up their hiring to grow by 30 percent this summer and started construction on their new headquarters building at the beginning of August.

The 476th FG reached 100 percent manning for the first time and is setting the standard for total force integration support of the A-10 Thunderbolt II mission and air expeditionary force deployments at Moody AFB, Ga.

All of these events mean that you are doing a great job supporting our 2011 mission priorities to support AEF deployments and successfully incorporate geographically separated units by helping our fighter groups grow and excel.

Here at Whiteman, we're in the home stretch to win our operational readiness inspection. In July, we had a great operational readiness exercise, and we're down to fine tuning a few last items before the inspector general team arrives, Aug. 26. Many of us have observed recent inspections at other wings so we know our procedures are up to speed - now we just need to demonstrate them to the IG team. We'll have ORI Right Start briefings, Aug. 25, so all of us at Whiteman can huddle up and review our game plan one last time before the IG team arrives. Here are some of the key things to think about and take care of before then:

1. If you are scheduled to process and deploy during the ORI, be ready. Our wing mission is to Train and Deploy Ready Reservists, and the "ready" part means having your mobility bag packed properly and your deployment folder up to speed with all the required training done. Listen to your unit deployment manager and ask if you have any questions about what you need. We can't afford to make mistakes on the little things that we have complete control over.

2. When inspectors provide "injects" to the scenario, they are evaluating a specific capability, and I need to know about it so I can communicate the proper response to the entire wing. If you get an inject card, take the appropriate immediate action and then ensure the event gets sent up the chain of command. For example, if an inspector tells you your computer has a virus, follow the procedures on the red/green/yellow network incident card that should be next to your computer, and then tell your supervisor or call the command post at X-3564.

3. Pay attention to the crisis action team directives (CATDs) so you have the latest updates on critical exercise information. Be ready to answer inspector questions on things like the FPCON. If you don't know the answer, check with your unit deployment control center (UDCC) or ask your supervisor.

4. Safety is paramount. Things like technical-order compliance, personal protective equipment and flight line driving can make or break us, so take care of yourself and your wingmen.

5. Finally, remember to project a positive attitude at all times. We are all happy to be on the verge of putting three straight years of inspections behind us, so let that upbeat energy shine through! Positive attitudes are infectious and will raise the spirits of your co-workers as well as the grades from inspectors if they need a tie breaker.

We are ready for this inspection. Our A-10s are the best in fleet. The dedicated Citizen Airmen of the 442nd Fighter Wing are the best I've ever worked with. We have a solid game plan and an all-star team to execute it. Be proud to show it. When an IG team inspector approaches you during the inspection, stand up, smile and greet them with the confidence and pride that comes with being part of a championship team, and the humility that comes from knowing it's not over until the report is signed.

I know we're going to do great during the ORI. Thank you for all you do. It's an honor to be your commander.

Source

Q&A with the boss: GSUs, what's the point?

by Col. Eric S. Overturf, 442nd Fighter Wing commander
Released by 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

7/11/2011 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Why do we have GSUs and what purpose do they serve?

Air Force Reserve Command wanted to put all A-10 combat power in one wing so we could more efficiently train and deploy pilots, maintainers and combat support. The 442nd Fighter Wing already had the wing structure they were looking for, so we became the host wing.

How will our jobs be affected?

The addition of GSUs will be transparent to most people here at Whiteman. Locally, we won't lose any jobs, but there will be some benefits. You will have the opportunity for upward advancement in other parts of the wing, the opportunity to support deployments and TDYs and we will now have backfill when we are short in any area of the wing (to include the GSUs.) We also now have the networking with other experienced A-10 pilots and maintainers that we can share information and get answers about things from others within our own wing.

Will we lose any aircraft as a result of the GSUs?

No. We will continue to retain 24 aircraft. We will however, assist the 917th FG at Barksdale, which provides two A-10s to the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC) in Tucson, Ariz. Instead of the 917th FG providing both aircraft, we will provide one aircraft and accompanying maintenance personnel to go to Tucson TDY on a voluntary basis.

What is the reporting structure?

The GSUs are organized as fighter groups so they have a group commander who reports directly to me, just like our operations, maintenance and mission support groups here. I will spend a lot of time on the phone with them and we will do teleconferencing at least once a month. Also I plan to visit each GSU quarterly.

What additional tasks will the 442nd have?

The only ones who should be affected by this are the wing staff and personnel functions. For example, our judge advocate will be responsible for all legal issues at not just here, but also at the GSUs now. We will be doing the funding and hiring actions at the GSUs as well. The wing hasn't yet been given any additional manpower to support this, so I've requested the Site Action Task Force from AFRC to evaluate our requirements in hopes of getting additional positions to assist our Force Support Squadron and wing staff with the extra work.

How will this affect deployments?

There won't be more deployments necessarily, but there will be more opportunities to deploy. We will be able to share in what the GSUs are doing. The intent of putting all the A-10 combat power together is to allow the wing to support AEF deployments, which I have already volunteered us to do this upcoming year.

When you say 442nd FW, how will we differentiate who you're talking about now?

When I say "we, it means the entire fighter wing, including the GSUs. Otherwise, I'll make sure to say Whiteman, Barksdale, Moody or Davis-Monthan personnel.

How can I find out if the GSUs are hiring?

As with any reserve position, you can look on Reserve Management Vacancy System, which you can get on through www.afpc.afrc.af.mil. For full-time positions, you can check www.usajobs.com. Also, we are going to begin directly notifying you of available positions at the GSUs through Whiteman e-mail.

What are some of the problems we're having?

The biggest problems we are having are getting the manning documents straightened out. For example, Barksdale was part of a bomb wing and now they're part of a fighter wing. We have to work on getting documents realigned under the right wing. Also, we are establishing the roles and responsibilities of each person within the wing both at Whiteman and at the GSUs. Two of the GSUs are total force integration units, who work side-by-side with active duty units as well as with the tenant-host units. The civilian hiring process can also be complicated. Even when a position needs to be filled and we've found the right person for it, it can take a long time to complete the hiring process.

Why should I care about these GSUs?

This makes you part of the largest fighter wing in AFRC. That comes with benefits of additional opportunities for mobility, potential opportunities for full-time employment for those who are interested in moving to one of the GSU locations, chance to travel and the chance to share in additional TDYs and deployments. You can also join in the pride of knowing that you're part of the only reserve unit that provides A-10 combat power support.



The 442nd Fighter Wing is responsible for the host wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. as well as three geographically separated units: the 476th Fighter Group, Moody AFB, Ga.; the 917th Fighter Group, Barksdale AFB, La.; and the 924th Fighter Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. Col. Eric Overturf is the wing commander for the 442nd FW. Full size

Source

Video: TFI mission

Released as part of the Air Force Report on USAF's public website May 6, 2011

Watch the video (Note: The embedding code doesn't work on my blog.)

Embedded video via DVIDS:



Package of the Total Force Initiative (TFI) between the 355th Fighter Wing and the 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Soundbites from Col. John Russell, Maj. Jerry Cook, Lt. Col. Becky Fox, Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Close. Produced by Manuel Smith.

Transcript

The Air Force Total Associate Program serves as a cost effective measure for the Air Force. By sharing units of different components to share aircraft as a unit. The 924th Fighter Group and Davis Monthan AFB, Ariz. is a classical associate for unit.

SB: A lot of the folks we have were previously active unit members, so the active duty knows are people very well and relationship is very comfortable at this time.

SB: As far as working with the active duty it has just been transparent for just about everyone, we are all aware of the mission and it has worked very well and we have a fantastic working relationship with the active duty leadership at Davis-Monthan.

This TFI model is shares equipment with other active duty TFI units and other reserve component units.

SB: We are a Total Force and we all work together and the main thing we bring to the TFI unit is continuity. So we do have people who have been in the Air Force for many years and are very well qualified and trained they bring that consistency to the work force.

SB: One of the great things about this unit is the 355th Fighter Wing embraced the TFI mission, they want us here, and they want us embedded in their units.

The 924th Fighter Group is currently hiring, so if you are interested please contact them at 520-228-4927.

Reporting from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for Air Force Reserve Command I am Manuel Smith.