Arctic Warriors Support Arctic Reserve

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Rhiannon Willard
  • 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Total Force was in full swing here last weekend with active duty members and Reservists working side by side to complete the mission. Airmen from the 3rd Wing Legal Office and Dental Squadron volunteered their services to help the 477th Fighter Group. They worked with Reserve Airmen to complete physical health assessments and prepare legal documents for the upcoming mobilization of the 477th Civil Engineer Squadron. 

Throughout the past year, the 3rd Wing has been vital in the stand up of Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 unit. The 477th FG has met the TFI goal of increased combat capability and efficiency by leveraging existing 3rd Wing resources in support of one common goal. 

The 3rd Wing Dental Squadron has supported the 477th Aerospace Medical Flight on Unit Training Assembly weekends since October. They provided personnel and facilities to maintain the medical readiness of more than 180 Air Reserve Technicians and Traditional Reservists. 

"We understand that Reservists have full time civilian jobs and also come here to work in their Reserve jobs. We are prepared to do our part to help support the mission when we can," explains Staff Sgt. Irma Meza-Orozco from the 3rd Dental Squadron. "We work here in the clinic every day so it's easy for us to be efficient on the weekends and get a lot of Reservists in to see the dentist." 

The 3rd Wing Legal Office processed wills and Power of Attorneys for members of the 477th CES over the UTA. The 477th CES will deploy to Iraq in the spring, and this will be the first combat deployment for the squadron since World War II. Their mission is to help plan, build, sustain and protect the base while providing combat-ready, deployable forces. 

"We all volunteered to work Saturday to help out with their deployment. This has been rewarding for us," says Master Sgt. Brenda Knorr, a paralegal from the legal office. "We feel appreciated and the members we helped were very grateful." 

Since their activation in October 2007, the 477th FG has contributed Reserve maintainers, engineers, pilots and support personnel to over nine deployments and exercises. These accomplishments have been realized ahead of schedule through the exceptional teamwork of both active duty and Reserve members. 

"The Arctic Reserve is gaining strength every day. We welcomed 21 newcomers this past drill weekend," says Col. Eric Overturf, 477th FG Commander. "The outstanding support the 3rd Wing provided in our unit's early stages is vital to our overall success. "
In 2012, when fully staffed, the fighter group will employ 425 Airmen including pilots, maintainers, civil engineers, medics and force support personnel. The 477th FG Staff Judge Advocate and paralegal positions are currently vacant along with other positions. For more information please visit afreserve.com.