Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany -- SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Citizen Airmen from the 927th Logistics Readiness Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, traveled to Spangdahlem Air Base July 7-23 to maintain their mission ready status.
Unlike active duty military, traditional reservists only have one weekend per month and two weeks per year to stay current on all training requirements to be considered mission ready and deployable for worldwide taskings.
“The UTA [Unit training assembly] allows great training opportunities for us to perform our operational mission, but when we are able to be apart from the distractions at MacDill and be completely encompassed in a new and different operation, it provides a whole new level of training for our troops,” said Lt. Col. Meredith Seeley, 927th LRS commander. “The training here is on a completely different scale, different airframes and a completely different operational mission, they have over 450 personnel operating out of 54 different buildings.”
To create a seamless force, much of the training, systems and procedures are common throughout the U.S. Air Force. However, some differences do exist. For example, aircraft fueling systems vary depending on the country and the type of aircraft.
“At MacDill we are set up for large aircraft, wide body aircraft and Spangdahlem is setup for fighters,” said Master Sgt. Robert Rais II, 927th LRS, petroleum, oils and lubricants superintendent.
Rais said the biggest difference was the refueling procedure. MacDill aircraft receive fuel through a hydrant truck, while a hard hose is used for fueling aircraft at Spangdahlem.
“When deployed it is critical that we know these systems,” Rais said. “When you’re down range there isn’t time for on the job training.”
The benefits of working and training alongside active duty and Reserve counterparts at Spangdahlem exceeded normal training requirements; information and best practices flowed both ways.
Chief Master Sgt. Leroy Newhouse, 52nd LRS chief, said he was grateful to have fellow Reservists for his unit to mentor and learn from.
“We are blessed with their presence,” Newhouse said of the 927th LRS. “With us being in a manning crunch, we are still trying to meet real world missions so being here we are able to help train them and get them signed off on some key tasks, but they are also here to help us.”
Benefits of off-station annual training are numerous. The Reservists receive valuable training and participate ongoing real-world missions, plus they have opportunities that take them outside the gates of the air base.
”I think being able to emerge themselves in not just the operation but the culture here also provided a real unique opportunity for our troops,” said Seeley. “For some of these Airmen it was their first time being outside the United States. They got to enjoy the food, the culture and learn from their counterparts on the active duty side and on the civilian side as well.”
Building strong relationships, networking, innovation and process improvement is key to any organization.
“I would definitely request the 927th LRS come back,” said Newhouse. “We’re giving you a part of who we are and what we do; you’re taking some of our continuity with you, so when you come back and based on what you learned from us, you might be able to bring something back to improve our processes.”