New unit will fly Predator

Jace Radke

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004 | 10:45 a.m.

A new unit combining elements of active duty military personnel with the National Guard and reserve forces in Nevada could be a glimpse of the future of the Air Force.

This new blended unit will fly the Air Force's Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, and is a way to meet the new demands placed on the Air Force, said Nevada National Guard adjutant general Maj. Gen. Giles Vanderhoof.

"None of our services are able to grow because of manpower caps, so we have to find new ways to become more efficient," Vanderhoof said. "I think the guard can add a tremendous experience factor to the unit, because these are people who have been doing the same kinds of work for a longer time than some of the active duty people who move around more.

"Once you've done something for a while you tend to get really good at it."

The new unit is scheduled to become officially operational in April or May, but there are already guard, reserves and active duty Air Force personnel assigned to the unit in administrative capacities, military officials said.

The unit is an example of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper's plan to better use military resources. The Indian Springs-based Predators are in high demand for the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance they provide.

"Predators are certainly among the busiest units in the Air Force," said Nellis Air Warfare Center spokesman Mike Estrada, who added that members of the 15th Reconnaissance Predator Squadron are currently deployed. "Like our rescue squadrons the Predators can be sent out in small groups to complete missions."

Currently Nellis has two fully operational Predator Squadrons located at the Indian Springs Auxiliary Airfield about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The 15th and the 11th Recon Squadrons have about 40 Predator RQ-1 aircraft between them.

The newer 17th Recon Squadron is also operational at Indian Springs, but does not have its allocation of Predators yet, Estrada said.

The new blended unit will also likely be stationed at Indian Springs, but it is unclear if it will be absorbed into one of the existing units or as a fourth Predator unit. While still in its early stages the unit will eventually provide another deployable Predator group.

The unit will start small but could grow to include about 50 National Guard soldiers during it's first year of operation. While the unit will help solve some of the Air Force's manpower issues it also means a higher likelihood that guard and reserve soldiers will be deployed in the future.

"Having a new unit like this does increase the chances for deployment, but because of the unique nature of the Predators it may not require going overseas," National Guard spokeswoman April Conway said, referring to the ability of pilots to fly Predator missions from high-tech trailers in the United States, even when the aircraft is doing reconnaissance thousands of miles away.

"It increases the propensity for deployment, but may not increase the propensity for danger," Conway said.

The Nevada National Guard has been authorized to recruit additional soldiers to make up for those assigned to the new unit, meaning that it will not affect other guard missions, military officials said.

Vanderhoof sees the unit as an opportunity not only for the Air Force, but for the guard and reserve soldiers that will be participating.

"The merged unit should be fluid, and there won't be situations where only active duty personnel have certain jobs and the guard and reserves are stuck in certain positions," Vanderhoof said. "I think that we'll see guardsmen and reserves being promoted in this unit and even becoming detachment commanders supervising active duty personnel.

"I'm excited about it. Since the guard are considered part-time I think this kind of unit will bring a good bang for the buck."

The new unit will also include members of the California National Guard, Vanderhoof said.

The National Guard and Reserves already work with the Air Force under Air Mobility Command, which oversees the Air Force's cargo operations, but a blended unit is almost unheard-of under Air Combat Command where the Predator squadrons are grouped, Estrada said.

The Predators are a natural fit for the unit because of the need for more of the unmanned craft after the success the Air Force had with them in Afghanistan and Iraq. The craft fired Hellfire missiles at targets during Operation Iraqi Freedom along with providing intelligence.

The new Predator B aircraft are also scheduled to be housed at Indian Springs, once they are purchased by the Air Force. This larger version of the Predator is currently being tested.

"The unmanned aerial vehicles are the future when you look at what they can do," Vanderhoof said. "I can't even imagine what it's going to be like in 15 years."