Air reserve leaders from 11 nations build readiness, strengthen partnerships at Dobbins
Senior air reserve leaders from around the world met at Dobbins Air Reserve Base Sept. 22-24 for the 30th International Air Reserve Symposium, sharing ideas on how to strengthen readiness, integration and cooperation among their nations' reserve forces.
Delegations from the United States, Germany, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Poland and Israel attended in person, with Australia joining virtually. Though their reserve components differ in size, structure and maturity, leaders said they face many of the same challenges.
"Although we are all from different nations, and although all of our nations are in a slightly different place in terms of integrating the reserve component into the total force, we all have very similar struggles," said Lt. Gen. Paul Fast, commander of Air Force Reserve Command and chief of the Air Force Reserve. "I find great assurance and strength when I look at those commonalities, because that's something that we all share.
Under the theme "Operationally Ready Strategic Reserve," discussions centered on how reserve forces can stay trained, equipped and prepared to integrate quickly with active-duty counterparts when called upon.
"What does readiness mean for a reservist?" Fast said. "It means you're completely ready to go."
That readiness comes with challenges shared across many nations, including keeping reservists proficient as they balance military duties with civilian careers, modernizing forces, and ensuring policies and laws support timely mobilization. Leaders examined those issues through panel discussions, working groups and demonstrations on topics including mobilization, active-component integration, data dominance, civil-military partnerships and resource allocation.
Richard L. Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and reserve affairs, joined Fast and allied leaders for a discussion on reserve transformation in a complex strategic environment.
"It's all about being faster, more efficient, and at a scale that's applicable to modern-day combat," Anderson said. "We've made great strides in that, but it's not a destination, it is a journey."
Air Vice-Marshal Jo Lincoln, commandant general of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force and director reserves, said the chance to work through those issues with counterparts from other nations was one of the symposium's greatest strengths.
"Spending a few days with peers from across so many different nations talking about the future of the reserve, the challenges we face, I think it more than ever shows that we are stronger together," Lincoln said. "None of us are facing this on our own. We can share ideas, innovate together and find safe spaces to move things forward." The symposium also moved beyond conference rooms, giving delegates a firsthand look at Air Force Reserve capabilities and training. At the Air Force Reserve Command Expeditionary Combat Support-Training and Certification Center, delegates watched how civil engineers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians prepare for operations in contested and expeditionary environments. They also saw demonstrations at the Transportation Proficiency Center and observed aeromedical capabilities.
Delegates took a C-130H flight from Dobbins and viewed a static display of a 919th Special Operations Wing AC-130J Ghostrider, giving them further opportunities to discuss how reserve capabilities contribute to joint and coalition operations. A collaboration expo let participating nations highlight capabilities and identify potential opportunities for future exchanges, training and partnerships.
"The big thing is learning from each other, have a safe space to test ideas, collaborate, innovate, and we are definitely stronger together," Lincoln said.
Fast echoed that sentiment at the symposium's closing gala, saying the relationships built among reserve partners contribute directly to deterrence.
"Having our international partners here, it's a powerful amplifier of the goodness that we have when we work together," Fast said. "What this does is it builds strength, it builds trust, it builds confidence."
Those relationships, he said, matter even more when nations move from discussion to integration.
"When we are integrated, we are joined forces," Fast said. "That's what it's all about, creating dilemmas for our potential competitors and adversaries."
As the 30th IARS concluded, leaders left Dobbins with a shared task: turn three days of discussion and shared experience into continued collaboration, exchanges and training that make their reserve forces more ready to operate together when needed.
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