22nd AF Commander makes rounds, delivers latest information affecting reservists

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Veronica A. Aceveda
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  As part of a multi-wing visit, 22nd Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Martin M. Mazick spent the December UTA with the Liberty Wing.

"What I see here at the 512th (Airlift Wing) is great opportunity," said the general. "With the upgrading of the C-5 and bringing on a new airframe, there's tremendous opportunity for the reservists here. I have every confidence that this wing will do well."

The first of 13 C-17s is slated for arrival next year.

"What I ask of folks in times of change is to have an open mind and communicate with each other," the general said. "Knowledge is power; and, the more we share - the better we can do the job."

General Mazick said it's interesting to have witnessed the evolution of the Air Force from the end of the 1970s to where we are now, citing, 'it's not the same Reserve today.'"

"Realignments and force shaping causes us to be more efficient," he said. "We're continuously working on managing our money and utilizing our budget to meet mission requirements."

One method to best meet command objectives is being addressed in a test program centering around progression tours; it involves continuous training days for new reservists.

"We're looking at the time frame it takes from when a reservist graduates from technical training to when they can be operational in the unit trained to the 5-skill level," said General Mazick.

An example would be having an Airman in "X" career field becoming more mission ready with three to six months of straight training versus spreading that training out over numerous months of UTAs. New recruits would attend basic military and technical training and proceed directly to the unit for consecutive months of on-the-job training.

In the beginning, Air Force Reserve Command will select a limited number of Air Force Specialty Codes to be evaluated. One of those fields is explosive ordnance detection, said the general.

Another effort to improve unit readiness is underway at the 22nd Air Force level.

"We are revamping the Staff Assistance Visit program, which involves on-site assessments of a unit's programs and processes," said General Mazick.

"We're getting back to 'assistance,'" said General Mazick. "A SAV is not an inspection. With the upcoming (Operational Readiness Inspections) and (Unit Compliance Inspections), we expect the units to seek help where it's needed."

He said SAVs are also being tailored to specific areas the wing commander requests.

"We can do a high level review or get into the weeds with a low level review," he said.
Another area 22nd Air Force is engaged in is shortening the (Air Expeditionary Force) rotation for reservists.

"If we can get the tour lengths shortened, we'd have one heck of a capability to offer," said General Mazick.

After delivering other command insights to an audience of nearly 1,000 Airmen at the wing commander's call Dec. 3, the general and Chief Master Sgt. James Fields, 22nd AF command chief, concluded their tour of Dover Air Force Base with a stop in the Immunizations Clinic for their flu shot.

One wing closer to accomplishing his goal of visiting all 22nd Air Force wings, General Mazick makes his way to Pittsburgh next.