93rd Bomb Squadron approved as formal B-52 training unit

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AFB LA --  When the first eight Reserve B-52s were acquired by the 917th Wing's 93rd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., on December 7, 1993, they were configured to support a nuclear mission. However, they were never needed for that role until now.

The Air Force Reserve Command's 917th Wing has been tasked to join active-duty in the nuclear mission under the total force initiative between Air Combat Command and AFRC.

The ACC, together with AFRC, has announced the reorganization of the B-52 formal training unit at Barksdale AFB.

Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, formally approved the total force integration initiative March 9, 2009.

Total Force Integration is a means to increase the Air Force's capabilities by, where appropriate, having members of the regular and reserve components work together.

Currently a combat-coded unit, the squadron is transitioning to the B-52 formal training unit, or schoolhouse, said Colonel Edmund Walker 917th Wing commander.

The squadron's aircraft complement is expected to grow from eight to 16 by summer 2009, with the new assets transferring over from Barksdale's active
duty 2nd Bomb Wing, he said.

As part of the change, the 2nd BW's 11th Bomb Squadron, the current B-52 FTU, will become an active associate to the 93rd BS, Colonel Walker said. It will no longer operate its own aircraft. Instead, its aircrews will work in the schoolhouse in partnership with the 93rd BS.

Colonel Walker continued, on the maintenance side, Airmen of the 2nd BW will work with the Reserve wing's maintenance group to keep the training aircraft flying.

Reserve aircrews will form a Reserve associate with the 2nd BW. These Reservists will
participate in the conventional and the nuclear-related activities of the active duty wing. They will also deploy with the B-52s, he said.

The 93rd BS is in the process of transitioning from a combat-coded unit to the responsibility of the FTU schoolhouse mission. They, with their active associate 11th BS partners will be training 100 percent of B-52 crewmembers in both the nuclear and conventional missions.

The 93rd BS will devote aircraft and personnel to the FTU mission, and the 11 BS will provide personnel for the mission. The FTU will continue to train and prepare ACC and AFRC pilots, navigators and electronic warfare officers for strategic and conventional missions.

At the same time, the 917th Wing is standing up a classic associate squadron (yet to be named) under the 2nd BW umbrella at Barksdale. Approximately four AFRC aircrews will associate in the combat mission, to include nuclear responsibilities as they are tasked to 2nd BW.

The ACC will strengthen its nuclear and conventional force presentation to combatant commanders by establishing a fourth operational B-52 squadron.

"We are working the process now with leadership approval of being named the 343rd Bomb Squadron as a detachment of the 917th Wing," said Lt. Col. Jeff Stogsdill, 93 BS, detachment commander. "(Originally) the 343rd began here at Barksdale on January 28, 1942."

The 343rd's Lt. Donald Puckett was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Tidal Wave, better known as the raid on the Ploesti oil refineries during the Korean conflict, said Colonel Stogsdill.

While historic, incorporating Reserves into the nuclear mission does bring challenges with it. "The idea of a reserve bomb squadron with a nuclear mission has been broached before but was determined impractical," Colonel Stogsdill said. "The last decade has seen quite a bit more emphasis on the Air Force Reserve's role in national defense."

"The most challenging factor will be balancing requirements with the traditional Reservists' availability," he said. "Volunteerism will be the deal maker."

The final decision to stand up the fourth squadron at Barksdale was made after an environmental impact analysis was completed. The analysis was required under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Under the reorganization, the Reserve Squadron will not only gain more aircraft to lead the FTU training, but the squadron will also add more personnel. The Air Force will reassign 400 Airmen from the Regular Air Force's 2nd BW to an active associate squadron to support the Reserve squadron and conduct FTU training.

Total funding of 11.8 million dollars, including operations and maintenance design funds, will be required to achieve permanent beddown of the squadron. This could mean a shot in the arm to the local economy. But, there are other benefits to be realized from the reorganization.

"There are two major benefits in having the Reserves assume this training role," said Lt. Col. Keith D. Schultz, commander, 93rd BS. "First, is the cost savings. Reservists have a long standing reputation of bringing highly experienced and qualified members performing the same mission as their active duty counterparts without having to pay for the full-time salaries and associated benefits."

"Secondly, our members are soundly rooted in the community and remain faithfully committed to their mission year after year without the constant need for diversification and forced relocation assignments," he said. "This allows them to focus on the task at hand as a permanent cornerstone of expertise in the training arena."

Implementation of the reorganization has already begun. "With the 93rd BS is ahead of scheduled milestones in converting combat ready crewmembers into (FTU) flight instructors, said Colonel Schultz. "We currently have 30 percent of our crew force through the formal training certification. Our goal is to have all of the reserve squadron members fully trained and certified to conduct flight line training operations by June 1, 2009."

Other phases of the reorganization are on schedule as well, according to Colonel Stogsdill, the Classic Associate is incrementally working towards being full mission ready by Nov. 1, 2009.

"I believe this is historic. When I first joined the Army Reserves in college, it was truly one weekend a month and two weeks a year. It's definitely more than that now," said Colonel Stogsdill. "We have traditional reservists who work here more than 150 days per year. What makes this nuclear role unique is it will be very difficult if this squadron is comprised of individuals who can only give the minimum time. The full-time cadre are specifically here to minimize "reinventing the wheel" every time the part-timer shows up. Right now we have an initial contingent of citizen-soldiers who are very motivated to make this work.

"The full spectrum of experience is here in the 917th Wing. The benefit will be in collaboration with active duty. Our youngest people in the 917th are some of the most innovative and hardest working people I know," he said.

"Coupled with quite a few grey hairs who actually have years of Strategic Air Command experience, I think we will bring different efficiencies and perspectives to our active duty brothers and sisters," Colonel Stogsdill said. "We always get a little chuckle out of buzzwords, but the synergy of active duty and the reserves working together will only enhance the war-fighting ability of the Air Force."

It would seem the long standing question of whether Reservists are equal to challenge of fighting alongside their active-duty counterparts has been answered with an astounding - yes they are.

Sweeping four of the top five awards at the Buff Smoke Competition in December 2008 and taking top honors in every event they competed in during Giant Sword II/Proud Shield II Bomb & Load Competition and Symposium in March 2009, which was also up against the newer B-1 and B-2 bombers, is a real good start for the 917th's 93rd BS.

Total Force Integration has not only brought a new mission to the 917th Wing, but a new challenge and heightened sense of pride to a group of warriors who have spent years serving their country in skies around the world proving their worth with every sortie.