DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 512th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, returned to home station from deployment July 29, 2022.
U.S. Air Force Col. Doug Stouffer, 512th Airlift Wing commander, met with the eight Airmen to welcome them home from their deployed locations in Southwest Asia and Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover AFB, Delaware.
During the meeting, Stouffer asked them to share their experiences in Southwest Asia from their respective deployments.
“It was an a-ha moment for me,” said Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Alois, 512th Maintenance Group superintendent. “It was amazing to see how the active duty couldn’t recognize a difference between (regular Air Force), guardsmen, and reservists.”
The blending of active, guard, and reserve components of the Air Force during exercises and contingency operations worldwide is known as Total Force Integration.
Master Sgt. Tylisha Darling, 512th Memorial Affairs Squadron, also had an opportunity to showcase the Air Force Reserve’s versatility.
“I wasn’t serving officially in the capacity of a first sergeant, but I found myself helping my troops because they trusted me and came to me with various issues,” said Darling. “I did a lot of mental health intervention and got my troops the resources they needed. A first shirt saw what I was doing and asked me to attend a First Shirt Symposium.”
Stouffer closed the meeting by thanking the Airmen for their service to their country.
The Airmen proceeded to in-process and began their journey to re-acclimate to their normal routine.
Those who returned from deployment include:
- Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Alois, 512th MXG
- Master Sgt. Tylisha Darling, 512th MAS
- Tech. Sgt. Mahogany Allen-Byrd, 512th MAS
- Staff Sgt. Channelle Lamb, 512th MAS
- Staff Sgt. Lenia Price, 512th Maintenance Squadron
- Staff Sgt. Jaylen Spence, 512th MAS
- Staff Sgt. Mohammad Hussain, 512th MXS
- Senior Airman Osborne Barnard, 512th MAS