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Joint Total Force Scott: Wings seamlessly integrated into operations

  • Published
  • By 375th Airlift Wing
  • Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  One of the most unique aspects of Scott Air Force Base is the working conglomeration of joint services, as well as active-duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel, which has come to be known as Joint Total Force Scott.

"JTF Scott is truly one of a kind when it comes to being a joint total force base," said Col. Al Hunt, 375th Airlift Wing commander. "We have such a strong partnership with our other joint forces, Reserve, Guard, civilian employees, family members and the local community we truly come together to serve an important role in the defense of America and its global interests."

As the host unit, the 375th Airlift Wing supports four major headquarters and a numbered air force with worldwide responsibilities: U.S. Transportation Command, 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command, the Surface Deployment Distribution Command and the Defense Information Technology Systems Agency.

The wing also provides support for the Air Force Communications Agency, the Tanker Airlift Control Center, Mobility Air Forces Logistical Support Center, the 932d Airlift Wing (Reserve) and the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing--along with 66 other associate partner units.

"I would like to thank all of those who contributed in helping make JTF Scott a success," said Colonel Hunt. "As we ring in the new year let's make this more memorable than the last." 

Below are a few examples of the many organizations that exemplify the Joint Total Force Scott concept:

Security Forces

Providing combat arms and expeditionary combat skills training to base members, vehicle pass and registration, security clearance support to the Joint Total Force Scott community and military working dog support to other federal law enforcement agencies is no small task. To accomplish this, the 375th Security Forces Squadron works hand-in-hand with members of the Guard and Reserve on a daily basis.

"We currently have 36 Guard and Reserve personnel working with us on man-days through the Air Reserve Component-Volunteer program," said Maj. Daniel Pempal, 375th SFS operations officer. "Additionally, earlier this year we began to partner with the 126th Security Forces Squadron. Previously, the 126th SFS manned their own control center, utilized their own restricted area badge and guarded their own planes. They now utilize our control center and radio net, decreasing their daily manpower requirement by 1/3."

In the near future, JTF Scott law enforcement will fully integrate their operations.
"Once this process begins 375th SFS personnel will be able to man 126th SFS posts and vice versa, giving personnel from both units more breadth of experience," said Major Pempal. "This new facility will be a total force security forces building, housing law enforcement operations from the 375th, 126th and 932nd SFS. 

Civil Engineers 

From fire protection to environmental management Joint Total Force Scott's team of 375th, 126th and 932nd Civil Engineer Squadrons are the anytime, anywhere base of operations.

"Beginning Saturday, the 126th ARW and 932nd AW firefighters will be working with our active duty firefighters with the objective of fully manning one of our three fire stations beginning in June," said Paul Schmidt, 375th CES deputy commander. "In addition to the manning of one of our stations, the 126th firefighters have a collocated fire station at the base of the control tower in Building 3900.

JTF Scott's CES personnel's diverse mission also includes cradle-to-grave management of all design and construction projects, accompanied and unaccompanied base housing management, disaster preparedness and explosive ordnance disposal. 

Regardless of whether a customer is Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard JTFs CES is there to fix their needs. 

C-40C Aircrews

Transporting distinguished visitors and their staffs through the skies is a shared mission between units at Scott. 

When the base's Reserve unit, the 932nd Airlift Wing, welcomed the C-40C to its inventory last February, it did not take on that mission alone. Joining them in their daily operations is the 54th Airlift Squadron, an active associate squadron. 

"The 932nd owns the aircraft and we rainbow crews," said Lt. Col. James Kisch, 54th AS commander. "The crews consist of some of our people and some from the 932nd." 

This type of organization leverages the best characteristics of each component in developing a more complete Total Force, according to the Concept of Operations for Active Associate Units. 

It addition, it promotes more flexible careers in order to achieve a more stable, experienced work force with operations flowing seamlessly between active, Reserve, and civilian components, it says. 

"A lot of the Reservists are commercial pilots when they're not serving in the military, so it's great to be able to learn from their experiences," he said. 


Editor's note: This is the first in a four-part series highlighting Scott Air Force Base's Joint Total Force environment,