McConnell maintenance complex integrates active duty, Reserve maintainers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brannen Parrish
  • 931st Air Refueling Group
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Active duty and Reserve Air Force leaders from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and 931st Air Refueling Group took a giant stride toward Total Force Integration initiatives during a ribbon cutting ceremony for a total force maintenance complex here, Dec 2.

The ceremony marked the culmination of a three-year, $5.7 million renovation which added more than 5000 square feet of floor space and reduced the distance maintenance crews travel to their aircraft by nearly a half-mile.

The redesigned facility houses active duty and Reserve crews and leadership from the 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 931st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. With more than 36,000 square feet of floor space, the hangar will hold up to three KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft.

Co-locating maintainers under a single roof with closer proximity to the flightline will result in more efficient operations as transportation costs are reduced and time spent working on aircraft increases.

"In today's environment, where resources and personnel are more precious than ever, it's even more important that we work together with our Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard partners to synergize our effectiveness and leverage off of each other's strengths," said Col. Ricky N. Rupp, Commander, 22nd Air Refueling Wing. "The opening of this new facility is symbolic of those efforts and represents a major step forward as we strive to ever improve our Total Force Integration here at McConnell AFB."

The 931st ARG is an Air Force Reserve associate unit to the active duty 22nd ARW. Reservists from the 931st ARG fly, maintain and support the base's KC-135 Stratotankers.
"As an Air Force Reserve associate unit, our Airmen work side-by-side each day with our active duty counterparts," said Col. William H. Mason, Commander, 931st Air Refueling Group. " This facility allows both the 22nd ARW and the 931 ARG to capitalize on that partnership and get the most from our collective resources. As Reservists continue to play a vital role in operations, it's important that we work seamlessly with our active duty counterparts. This facility contributes greatly to ongoing mission integration."

The Total Force is comprised of active duty, Reserve, Guard and civilians who generate efficiency and cost savings by sharing resources, reducing duplication of efforts and, in some cases, reducing the number of people needed to accomplish a task.