Reserve commander, command chief make first official visit to Liberty Wing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erika Brooke
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 512th Airlift Wing hosted a visit from the Commander of Air Force Reserve Command Lt. Gen. James "JJ" Jackson and the AFRC Command Chief Master Sgt. Cameron B. Kirksey, here March 1.

The event marks the first time Jackson has made a trip to the Liberty Wing since becoming the AFRC's highest-ranking officer in July 2012.

To reveal how the Liberty Wing supports the nation's objective through rapid global mobility, 512th AW Commander Col. Raymond A. Kozak escorted both Jackson and Kirksey on a tour of various units throughout the wing.

"We plan to show how our mission is guided by (Air Force Reserve) principles through our strategic alignment, our deployment processes and our performance leadership," said Kozak during an introduction brief preceding the base tour.

Guided by Kozak and 512th AW Command Chief Master Sgt. Brad Ferguson, Jackson and Kirksey attended an 'all call' at the base theater. During the base-wide briefing, Jackson described their visit as one intended not only to honor the hard work of Liberty Wing Airmen, but to also answer mission critical questions.

Jackson addressed concerns from the audience about the future influence of education requirements on promotion and retention.

"The Reserve is innovation powered by Airmen, and we want all of our members to be able to continue their education. One way is through distance learning. Also, we want college credits to mean more for members' military records," said Jackson.
Kirksey added, through education, the Reserve is able to maintain relevance in a constantly evolving world.

"Education is about leadership; it's about professionalism and staying relevant," said Kirksey. "We need to uphold a culture of performing leaders. These are the challenges we accept."
The visit continued by showcasing how 512th AW reservists deliver today's airlift while sustaining strategic reserve capability.

At the isochronal dock, 512th Maintenance Group Commander Col. Kelvin D. McElroy greeted the guests. There, members of the 512th MXG briefed the distinguished visitors on the modernization of the C-5M.

While touring the group, the reserve leadership was able to interact with some of the Liberty Wing's wrench turners.

"It's important for our leadership to see the lengths we go through to help ensure the lifespan of the airframe and how well we work with our active-duty host unit," said Tech. Sgt. Jason Smith, a 512th MXG Air Reserve Technician. "In here, we can show them parts of the C-5M that never see the light of day outside of this hangar, and I feel honored to be able to bring them into our world."

Other tour stops included an Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations orientation and an introduction to the largest aerial port in the Department of Defense, provided by 46th Aerial Port Squadron members. Lastly, the group experienced a trip on the C-5M Super Galaxy flight simulator.

Throughout the tour, Jackson stated he was impressed with how well the wing worked with the 436th AW, the active-duty wing on Dover AFB.

"It's impressive to see how seamless the integration of (the 512th AW's) active-duty counterpart is with the reserve mission," said Jackson. "The Liberty Wing and Dover Air Force Base is an example of true force integration."