New Active Duty squadron activates with AF Reserve

Lt. Col. Carlos Ortiz (right) takes hold of the recently-unsheathed 52nd Airlift Squadron guidon from Col. David Kasberg during an activation and assumption of command ceremony Oct. 3 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Colonel Ortiz became the first commander of the squadron since its inactivation in September 1997. The 52nd AS will work side-by-side with Airmen of the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing, already based at Peterson. Colonel Kasberg is the 19th Operations Group commander, based at Little Rock AFB, Ark. (U.S Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)

C-130 airlift squadron to activate, associate with Peterson reserve unit

Published Oct. 5, 2009
By 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A second C-130 Hercules airlift squadron moved to Colorado Springs Oct. 3, joining the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson during an activation and assumption of command ceremony.

The 52nd Airlift Squadron joins the 302nd Airlift Wing as part of the Air Force's "Total Force Integration" initiative that brings together active duty and Reserve Airmen under the same organization, flying the same aircraft. Through 2012, the squadron is expected to bring approximately 180 additional Airmen to the Colorado Springs area.

"Total Force Integration is about efficiencies," said Col. Jay Pittman, 302nd AW commander. "The active duty Airmen coming to Colorado will fly and maintain our C-130s right alongside our Reserve Airmen. The Air Force has a need to make more efficient use of aircraft available and (the 302nd AW) is part of that equation."

Lt. Col. Carlos Ortiz, a C-130 senior navigator, is the 52nd Airlift Squadron's commander.
"We look forward to working and flying with the men and women of the Air Force Reserve Command and will strive to be the model for C-130 active associations," Colonel Ortiz said. "We're looking to optimize mission performance by bringing active duty and Air Force Reserve resources together."

He also added, "The point of this association is how we share the aircraft. I think the high experience level of Air Force Reserve members will be an invaluable asset in training our younger active duty Airmen."

While the 52nd Airlift Squadron will be assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing, an active duty unit located at Little Rock AFB, Ark., its members will be stationed at Peterson.

Once activated and associated with its Air Force Reserve counterpart, the squadron will fly the same C-130s on the Peterson flightline, allowing for maximum use of the 302nd AW's equipment and resources.