Air Force Reserve celebrates 68th Birthday

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher R. Morales
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Active duty and Reserve Airmen came together to celebrate the Air Force Reserve's 68th birthday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, April 14, 2016.

"Celebrating our birthday is a great opportunity to recognize our diverse citizen Airmen," said Air Force Col. Dave Piffarerio, 477th Fighter Group commander. "We bring a wealth of talent, experience and perspective to missions that are crucial to our nation's defense. We cannot do that without the great support of our mission partners here at the 3rd Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson."

The Air Force Reserve was created as a separate component on April 14, 1948, when the Army Air Corps Reserve was transferred to the Air Force. The Air Force Reserve lineage dates back 100 years to when Reserve airpower was established in the National Defense Act of 1916. Today, more than 69,000 citizen Airmen are stationed locally in more than 66 communities throughout the United States and overseas, serving globally for every combatant command in air, space and cyberspace.

The Total Force Policy of 1973 laid the foundation for the Air Force Reserve to augment, associate and partner with the active-duty Air Force. It has transformed from a force in 'reserve' for emergencies to a fully operational Reserve force and a major command of the Air Force.

"Today, we are agile and experienced, with nearly 70,000 citizen Airmen stationed locally and serving globally," said Air Force Lt. Gen. James 'JJ' Jackson, Chief of the Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force at Washington D.C., and Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. "Citizen Airmen have answered our nation's call in every major conflict around the globe."

The Air Force Reserve mission is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight and win. The Air Force Reserve does this and more by offering airpower through more than 30 types of aircraft with speed, precision and lethality, and combat support through space operations and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability day in and day out.

Citizen Airmen have contributed to the prevention of multiple crises and contingencies since the Persian Gulf War and continue to assist in overseas contingency operations.

The 477th FG has participated alongside their active-duty partners in the 3rd Wing in every F-22 Raptor exercise and deployment, including the most recent deployment to Central Command area of responsibility, Piffarerio said.

The 302nd Fighter Squadron became a part of the 477th FG when they were both reactivated here in October 2007, the group is the Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 unit and the only Air Force Reserve unit in Alaska.

The 302nd FS traces its lineage back to the 'Redtails' squadron. The famous all-black unit fought both American prejudice and Nazi militarism. Another Tuskegee Airmen unit, the 477th Bombardment Group, was activated in 1944.