National Guard to replace Air Force Reserve security

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003 | 9:07 a.m.

Air Force Reserve Command security forces personnel may return home earlier than anticipated because of a memorandum of agreement signed by the departments of the Air Force and Army.

Under the agreement the Army will mobilize about 9,000 Army National Guard soldiers to augment security at 163 Air Force installations in the United States.

"We are leveraging all of our active and reserve assets, in the spirit of joint operations and inter-service cooperation," said Thomas Hall, assistant secretary of Defense for reserve affairs. "Our intent is to reduce the burden on the Air Force security forces personnel, in particular those Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members who are serving into a second year of mobilization. We believe this is a prudent and judicious use of our reserve component forces."

The Army will augment security at stateside Air Force installations for up to two years. Long-term solutions might include shifting military resources to stressed career fields, contracting security and making better use of technology, Defense Department officials said.

From the hands of babes

A handful of elementary school children of U.S. service men and women assigned to Incirlik, Turkey, embraced the spirit of giving this holiday season by working for months to collect school supplies for children in Afghanistan. The project was the brainchild of sixth grader Alex Kresin, who wanted to send a positive message to Afghan children.

"Alex wanted to help out children whose lives were being disrupted by war," Anne Roucher, a Defense Department Schools teacher said. "He empathized with them, wanted them to have a semblance of security and hoped the supplies would help in some small way," she said.

Alex submitted a proposal for the idea last year, then moved during the summer. But this year's student council made his proposal their first order of business.

"This was a wonderful way for students to develop leadership skills," Roucher said. "They sent out fliers, picked up supplies every day and made announcements. With the help of the Air Force Sergeants Association and the 728th Air Mobility Squadron, pens, pencils, notebooks, markers and other items will be distributed to Afghan schoolchildren. The shipment did not make it in time for the holidays, but the spirit of giving was not wasted.

"Children, especially at Incirlik, are aware of current events," Roucher said. "They know Americans are fighting a battle in Afghanistan, but that it's the adults fighting, not the kids."

The American students are also including a stack of letters with an invitation of friendship. They hope the language barrier will not prevent them from acquiring a few pen pals.

In brief