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New Sheriff In Town

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. K.L. Kimbrell
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
McConnell AFB, Kan. --  New traditional Reservists and Air Reserve Technicians join the 931st Air Refueling Group on a regular basis.
 
The past month, a new breed of Reservist joined the unit: an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) member, a 931st ARG first. 

How's that you may ask? Aren't all of the full-time personnel here ARTs or civilian employees? 

Well, they were until the new "sheriff" arrived in town. 

Master Sgt. Robert Reader, the new chief of the Security Forces division of the 931st Mission Support Flight comes to us from the 913th Airlift Wing at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pa., a unit that will be no more as of Oct.1 due to being selected in the last Base Realignment and Closure Commission. 

"Due to the base closer, REMO (AGR Management Office) offered this position along with two others," said Master Sgt. Reader. 

AGR Airmen are on active duty status and attached to a Reserve unit. 

"Aside from school tours, I have to go through the Air Force Reserve Command commander to get deployed," said Master Sgt. Reader. "My primary mission is to support the home station." 

According to Master Sgt. Reader there are two ways to become an AGR. 

1. When a position becomes available, an applicant has to apply for the position. Consideration for the position is based on the resume and recommendation letters that are turned in. Competition is stiff as slots are limited and benefits are high. 

2. Be in an ART position that will later be converted to an AGR slot. You would need to meet the requirements for that position but you wouldn't have to compete with anyone for the job. 

Sergeant Reader joined the Air Force as a Traditional Reservist in Nov. 1997 and was stationed at Willow Grove ARS, Pa. 

"After Basic (Military Training) I stayed on orders to support such missions as Southern Watch, Olive Harvest and the home station security mission," said Sergeant Reader.
Nearly three years after his initial enlistment, the Security Forces Airman transitioned out of TR status. 

"I became an ART on Sept. 11, 2000, then an AGR in Nov. 2005," he continued. 

The sergeant's initial impressions of the group are all positive. 

"I have been welcomed with open arms," said Sergeant Reader. "The full-timers and TR members alike have been extremely eager to welcome me to my new home." 

Sergeant Reader, who hails from Philadelphia, Pa., is impressed with what he sees around the Group. 

"The people make the organization and this Group has some of the best," said Sergeant Reader. 

That's seemingly not too shabby of a compliment coming from someone who hails from the city of brotherly love.