Quote:
Originally Posted by wabpilot
That was the way the USAF did business. In the Navy, we tended to have our reserve air wings equipped similarly to our active air wings. During the 1980s, we upgraded the reserves to F-14s from the F-4S. That was while we still had F-4N and F-4S squadrons in the regular navy. The same happened with F-18s replacing the A-7. However, the A-7 hung on for a long time in both the regulars and reserves. (It was a good light attack type.)
In the Naval Reserve Force we haven't done as well. They still have too many FFGs. But, almost every Naval Reserve Center has either a Bridge, CIC, Damage Control or Engine Room simulator. The Reservists arrive for their reserve cruise well drilled on how to operate their particular part of the ship, even if their ship is now very much out of date. Thus, a reserve cruise can concentrate on integrating the reservists into the ship's routine without worrying about teaching them their primary duty.
Our system also has two other types of reserves. First there are the active duty reserves. Those are officers who have a reserve commission rather than a regular one. The majority of our serving officers are actually reservists. A substantial majority of our naval aviators on active duty are reservists. That is how I was initially commissioned. I transferred to the regular navy after my four year commitment was complete because the retirement benefits were better. I served under reservists until I got my third stripe. From there on, it was rare to see a reservist on active duty. But, there are reserve Captains and even Admirals. They just tend to be on reserve duty.
The next group of reserves are officers and NCOs who have completed their active service obligations, but are not retired or discharged. They are assigned to the inactive reserve. Which is more what I think your understanding of the reserve is. Definitely people who could be called up in the event of an emergency, but not training on a regular basis.
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I mean no offense Will, but that may have been the USAF did business 20 years ago, but it hasn't been that way in a while. I don't know how long you've been out of the business, but for the most part, the ANG/Reserves are playing an equal part or more so than their AD counterparts currently deployed to the middle east. You look at the F-16 units deployed recently for example and you'll see units like Syracuse, McEntire, DC, Great Falls, Homestead, etc...right next to their AD F-16 counterparts.
If you look at the backbone of any ANG/Reserve fighter squadron, and you'll see almost all of the flyers are already experienced fighter pilots with well over 1000 hours in some type of high performance jet. While the part timers may only fly 7 to 8 times a month at the squadron...when they are activated to go to war it'll only take a couple of weeks before they're a lethal warfighting machine. All that experience really makes a difference - as compared to an active duty squadron. While younger active duty guys spend more time on average in the squadron - they certainly don't have that airmanship backbone to fall back upon once the proverbial sh*t hits the fan.
I'm not familiar with the Navy Reserve act, however it's obviously on a much smaller scale than the USAF ANG and Reserve. Plus, the F-22's will never be going to the Navy or the Navy Reserves for that matter. Not trying to flame - just pointing out the current basics that I think most folks are missing in today's USAF fighting forces...especially our fuzzy foreign friends.