DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Do you know what it means to be 100% mission capable? If not, you sure could learn a thing or two from the 489th Maintenance Squadron, the B-1B Lancer’s first and only Air Force Reserve unit. The recently reactivated unit has maintained 100 percent of their sorties due to no maintenance issues for 13 straight months.
The 489th Bomb Group, which includes the 345th Bomb Squadron, was reactivated under the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Oct. 17, 2015. Since then, manning levels within the Air Force Reserve unit went up to more than 50 percent with more than 150 Airmen.
“The ability for us to come together with experience from different aircraft and work with active-duty Airmen makes us successful,” Johnston said. “Initially, we couldn’t have done this because we didn’t have very many people. The 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are a huge part of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
This streak was achieved through the Reserve unit’s experience and help from active-duty Airmen. Many of the 489th MXS Airmen were active-duty service members before, which also accounts for the breadth of knowledge on the B-1 and other aircraft.
“We rely on Total Force Integration to work together as a team,” said Master Sgt. Donald Johnston, 489th MXS specialist flight chief. “We draw manning from the active-duty sector to succeed in our mission sets, but we try not to burden the weekend-duty Airmen with our launches and sorties. We also try to give back to them by adding manpower on the weekends.”
The 489th BG averages two sorties per Reserve weekend. However, there are 345 BS B-1 pilots who are flying every day with the 9th Bomb Squadron.
“The aircrew has more experience so they feel comfortable,” said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Clephane, 489th MXS avionics technician. “They are able to decipher problems on the bomber prior to completing their sorties.”
Their work ethic also had a lot to do without having any maintenance problems.
“Experience and knowledge allows us to troubleshoot something quicker and realize what the issue is,” Johnston said.
The 489th MXS took a section of the 7th Bomb Wing’s mission as their own. They follow a unit tasking code that states what is needed, such as a certain number of aircraft to go to a particular location.
“With us continuing to meet all of our sorties and grow our manning, we are able to perform the job Air Force Global Strike Command and combatant commanders request of us,” Johnston said.
As the 1-year-old, reactivated group continues to progress, they are moving in the right direction. In a short period of time, they’ve proven to be a vital asset to Dyess. They have already participated in large-scale exercises, such as Ample Strike 16 in Ostrava, Czech Republic and Neptune Falcon in Las Vegas.
“I am extremely proud of what my maintainers have accomplished over the past 13 months,” said Maj. Garth Ranz, 489th MXS commander. “This is an amazing feat for any airframe, especially the B-1. Of course, we could not have achieved this amazing accomplishment without the support of our mission partners in the 7th AMXS and the 345th BS. The active-duty maintainers provide exceptional ‘red ball’ maintenance, and our Reserve aviators instill the faith and confidence in our people to get the job done right and jets in the air. Fortunately, you cannot tell the difference between an active-duty and a Reserve Airman on the flightline, and that tells me our TFI relationship is strong and working the way it is designed.”
As the 489th BG continues to grow and make their mark in bomber history, they’ll continue to strive for perfection.