News

Civilian jobs give Airmen hands-on experience

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Reserve units are often presumed to be less trained than their active-duty counterparts, but that's not the case with the 55th Combat Communications Squadron, according to its commander, Maj. Christopher Marcella.

In fact, he suggested, the Air Force Reserve unit might even be better trained than it would be as an active-duty unit. That, he said, is because most of the members are employed in technical-skill jobs directly related to their work in the 55th CBCS. Therefore, they are likely getting more hands-on experience than they would if they were full-time Airmen.

"A lot of our people have civilian jobs that give them a breadth of experience they might not get from their service," he said. "So they come back to the table and can help facilitate projects and do things that help strengthen our Air Force."

He noted, for example, that the group has generator mechanics who are employed with Caterpillar and Georgia Power, where they work on generators on a regular basis.

"They bring that experience back in here, and bring in new trouble-shooting techniques and different methods of day to day maintenance on generators," he said.

The reserve unit includes 119 reservists and 13 full-timers. About this time last year, the group deployed 36 personnel to Balad Air Base, Iraq. It was the largest deployment of communications positions filled by a Reserve unit in a single rotation.

The group returned in early June after participating in just about every task that could be expected of a combat communications squadron, including construction of a new air traffic control communications operations facility, an alternate air traffic control tower, a new land mobile radio tower, a cell-phone tower, a dining facility and more. The group garnered dozens of awards, and 75 percent of the group were coined by commanders, chiefs and other top Air Force personnel.

All of those deployed volunteered for the assignment. In fact, Major Marcella said, the squadron originally planned to deploy to Afghanistan, but they had so many people volunteer that it was more than was needed for that assignment, so they asked for another assignment where everyone could go. He is already assembling volunteers for another deployment later this year, after the unit has its first Operational Readiness Inspection. Major Marcella is hoping the next deployment will be a humanitarian mission for the new U.S. Africa Command.

It was no surprise to him that so many volunteered to go to Iraq. 

"We have a group of highly motivated people," he said. "It shows dedication and belief in what we do."

He also noted that members of the group live all around the country and come here on their own dime one weekend per month for training. One of those is Senior Master Sgt. John Temple, who lives in California.

Every month he spends about $500 on a plane ticket and rental car to come to Warner Robins for training.

"I'm not making any money," Sergeant Temple said in a telephone interview from California. "I pretty much break even."

So why does he do it?

"It's a good group," he said. "Everybody is friendly and it's more of a family than anything else."

A 26-year Air Force Reserve veteran, he came to the 55th CBCS four years ago after a friend in another unit he was in at the time recommended it. His full-time job, at least for now, involves anti-virus work for Hewlett-Packard. He was among those slated to be laid off by the company, but he is still on the job and has some hope that he may be retained.

He was not among the large group that deployed, but he did deploy to Afghanistan a few weeks earlier to fill a position in another unit. He spent his Thanksgiving and Christmas there working in the Network Control Center.

Major Marcella explained that the difference between a combat communications squadron and a communications squadron is that a communications squadron works primarily in garrison on existing infrastructure. A combat communications squadron is a self-sustaining unit that works in the field setting up communications for planned base camps or where ever needed.

"It's a unique mission," he said. "You take something from nothing and you stand up a communications center."

Senior Master Sergeant Bart Sawyer, who has been with the 55th CBCS since it stood up in 2004, said the unit has progressed "leaps and bounds," particularly in the area of technology.

He deployed with the group that went to Balad last year.

"Per the commander's words over there, our core combat com guys were the best rotation he had in his whole year there, and it wad due to the team that we sent," he said. "I saw a lot of these guys grow a lot in just four months and gain a lot of experience."