LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Team Lackland exercised and evaluated the Air Force's mobilization processes and crisis action procedures last week during Push-Pull 2009.
The April 6-10 exercise went well, said Chief of Readiness and Plans Chris Sharp.
Mr. Sharp said the 37th TRW executed the operation, bringing the retirees to Lackland for their inprocessing and reorientation under direction of Air Education and Training Command.
The 141 retired majors and master sergeants volunteered to participate in the exercise, reporting to Lackland April 6 for the week of training.
They were reoriented back into the active-duty Air Force, evaluated for medical qualifications and went through a simulated uniform issue, actual records review and other processing requirements to re-enter active duty.
"There were no hitches," Mr. Sharp said. As the retirees were mobilized, the 37th Mission Support Group, the 37th Medical Group, the 737th Training Group and the 433rd Airlift Wing worked together to demonstrate Lackland's ability to bring retirees back to active duty, he said.
The retirees slept in training barracks, ate at a dining facility, took direction from military training instructors and learned what the Air Force is currently teaching trainees.
"I thought this would be a good chance to see what's going on," said Maj. (ret.) Kevin Benedict, who retired about 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, basic training increased from six to 8.5 weeks, allowing more time to teach war fighting skills to Air Force basic military training trainees.
Each retiree was a volunteer. Several months prior, the Air Force sent application letters to Airmen who had retired, inviting them to participate in the recall test.
Those accepted had to show up meeting Air Force regulations, which meant for more than a few, shaving post-retirement beards and haircuts.
Maybe the most noticeable change for many was the change from the Battle Dress Uniform to the Airman Battle Uniform.
"I was excited about (my husband) coming back to see what has changed in the Air Force, like the uniforms," said Capt. Patricia Shelly. Captain Shelly currently serves with the Defense Language Institute and her husband was an exercise participant. "He also learned about the online services now available on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site."
Reserve military training instructors from the 433rd Airlift Wing coordinated the trainees' actions. "When the retirees heard that the MTI cadre was Reserve, they were surprised," said Senior Master Sgt. Julie Begley, a military training instructor with the 433rd Training Squadron.
"The retirees shared their stories of being deployed with Reservists during the Gulf War (and said) it was great working with Reservists."
The Push-Pull exercise was a reflection of today's operating tempo and total force cooperation in accomplishing the mission.
"There were military and civilians, active duty and Reserve, Air Education and Training Command and Air Staff. All of us had to come together and get the job done," said Sergeant Begley.
The event succeeded in educating retirees about the Air Force of today.
"He came home feeling even more proud to have served in our military," Captain Shelly said about her husband. "He is (sharing) his thoughts about how great it was when he was in and how great the Air Force is changing to meet tomorrow's needs."