SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (USTCNS) --- The Air Force Reserve Element of the Joint Transportation Reserve Unit at U.S. Transportation Command contributed 2,492 workdays of support in fiscal year 2000, 33% of the 7,567 workdays contributed by the joint reserve unit.
The Air Force Reserve members account for 20% of the JTRU unit manpower strength. The majority of the contributory workday support was in USTRANSCOM operations where JTRU members stood 25% of the watch in the Mobility Command Center and on exercise support.
"The 42 Air Force Reserve members of JTRU averaged 59 workdays per person, working exercises, watch standing in the MCC, gapping active duty billets and serving in directorates throughout the command," said Lt. Col. Steve Heuer Air Force element commander. "We constantly manage the priorities of immediate command needs and training requirements of JTRU members to maximize the use of all available funding and personnel. We provide qualified reserve personnel for daily as well as surge requirements."
"The 7,567 workday contribution is in addition to the monthly training drills and speaks to the serious commitment by the men and women of the JTRU to the U.S. Transportation Command," said Rear Adm. Thomas Hill commander of the JTRU. "USTRANSCOM requested more than 11,000 workdays of reserve augmentation in FY00, so personnel availability and funding is a major concern."
The USTRANSCOM mission of providing one-stop global transportation to DOD in peace and war.
One training and mission enhancement initiated in fiscal year 2000 was the placement of a JTRU member as a transportation liaison officer at each joint command during exercises.
LNOs interface with and advise the war gamers on transportation issues and concerns. LNOs managed daily transportation operations on-site and avoided countless disconnects throughout the exercise and throughout the theater.
"Requests for projected JTRU augmentation for FY01 is more than 12,300 workdays. Reserve augmentation demand will continue to exceed the supply," noted Hill. "The JTRU will focus on directorates' highest priorities and will coordinate augmentation with reserve training. That is our mission and our challenge."
The USTRANSCOM JTRU, the first Department of Defense-authorized joint reserve unit, was activated in September 1991. The unit has more than 185 Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine and Naval reservists who supplement USTRANSCOM active and civilian full-time staff during peak operations or as needed throughout the year.
Hill served as JTRU commander from Sept. 1997 through Oct. 2000. He reported as senior Reserve supply officer at the Naval Supply Systems Command, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Brig. Gen. Robert P. Meyer, Jr., Air National Guard, former commander, 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker IAP, Ohio assumed command of the JTRU in change of command ceremonies at Scott Air Force Base Oct. 28, 2000.
