TFI: Taking the military by force

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexandra M. Longfellow
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE --  Since its adoption in 1973, the Total Force Policy has guided decisions on how people within the Department of Defense -- active, reserve component, retired military, federal civilians and contractors -- are structured to protect the nation's interests.

The integrated capabilities of the total force are essential to successfully implementing United States defense strategy and are a prerequisite to a cost-effective force structure.

"As the Air Force continues to reconstitute the force, we must find new ways to meet the mission and utilize all manpower available," said 1st Lt. Robert Terrazas, 11th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer-in-charge. "Total Force Integration is one of the tools available."

There are two types of TFI units, a classic associate, in which the reserve or guard augments the active -duty, and active associate, in which active duty augments the reserve or guard members.

Barksdale fully integrated the active associate in September 2009. Barksdale implemented the integration system to better support the flight training unit, weapons school and test mission.

"The squadrons are able to focus on supporting the FTU without having to pause for exercise," said Lieutenant Terrazas. "This has allowed us to meet 90 percent of our scheduled sorties over the first eight months of the integration."

Airmen have seen several changes throughout the integration between the reserves and active duty members.

"The biggest change I have seen since the integration is the dedicated crew chief program," said Senior Airman Alisha Gogocha, 11th AMU assistant dedicated crew chief. "The program provides continuity and accuracy by assigning ownership to the aircraft to specific crew members. This enables us to work on the same aircraft and understand it properly, which makes us more qualified combat ready."

An integrated total force is the key to achieving the goals of shaping, responding and preparing for the challenges and opportunities confronting the nation today and tomorrow.