419th LRS, Lajes train together

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Mark Graff
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
LAJES FIELD, Azores --  Reservists with the 419th Logistics Readiness Squadron arrived at Lajes Field, Azores, Friday as part of a cooperative effort with the 65th Air Base Wing.
 
Members of the 419th LRS will complete annual training during their temporary duty stay at Lajes, while the 65th LRS exercises its ability to receive forward-deploying forces.

Force reception is one mission of the 65th Air Base Wing.

"I've never been on a TDY where I've had this type of reception," said Chief Master Sgt. Glenn Bair, 419th LRS superintendent. "Everybody is here to help us out. Everything is lined up. You couldn't ask for a better reception."

The 419th LRS, part of Hill Air Force Base's 419th Fighter Wing, will focus on training here, but the reservists also intend to assist their active duty counterparts at every turn.

The training is a confidence booster, said Capt. Andrew Moisan, 419th LRS commander's representative.

"It gives them confidence that they know how to do their job so that when they go down range, they have confidence in their abilities," Moisan, a Stratham, N.H. native, said. "It also gives the active duty personnel the opportunity to see that reservists can do the job and do it well."

For Lajes Field logisticians, the arrival of the 419th validates the 65th LRS' ability to receive and bed down forces.

Though the 419th's stay is temporary, the total force integration at Lajes Field will be mutually beneficial for the units, said Lt. Col. Scott Hopper, 65th LRS commander. "I can tell you that it's a win-win relationship. Both squadrons are going to gain from this relationship."

While training on all facets of the LRS mission, the 419th will also be devoting some time to ensure that their active duty counterparts with the 65th are also in compliance with logistics regulations.

"It's a two-way street here," said Bair, a Logan, Utah resident. "We want to leave Lajes with an invite to come back because we were able to help Lajes' personnel accomplish their mission."

This cooperative relationship between the reserve and active duty unit is really about the bigger picture, Bair said.

"We've got to prepare the Airmen to support the combatant commanders out in the field," he said. "Lajes seemed like the place to come to get the training our Airman need."