Columbus AFB reserve pilots contribute to SECAF flight

  • Published
  • By Airman Daniel Lile
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  A 43rd Flying Training Squadron pilot was part of a formation flight at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, Dec. 18 that included Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James.

Maj. William Parrott, 43rd FTS Assistant Flight Commander, flew a T-38 Talon in the flight, which showed the Secretary how Columbus AFB produces its pilots.

"In the flight, we went out and showed the Secretary how we train future fighter pilots," Parrott said. "We showed her how we introduce the wingmen to basic air to ground tactics and basic fighter maneuvering."

Parrott, a reservist, contributed to the flight with James like he and his entire reserve unit contributes to the Air Force mission every day.  The 43 FTS, a geographically separated unit of the 340th Flying Training Group, Randolph AFB, Texas, is a reserve associate unit that works side by side with the 14th FTW at Columbus AFB.  The 340th FTG, commanded by Col. Brian Bowman, is the largest flying group in the Air Force, consisting of 425 instructor pilots assigned to six squadrons at Vance AFB Oklahoma, Joint Base San Antonio Texas; Columbus AFB Mississippi; Laughlin AFB Texas; Sheppard AFB Texas; and the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. 

"The reserve component contributes greatly to the training mission here at Columbus," Parrott said. "We fly numerous student sorties, fill supervisory roles and serve as flight evaluators. We bring a lot of experience to the table.  I have been an instructor for over 13 years in the military while some of my active-duty counterparts are on their first assignments as instructors. There is a fairly significant total force integration that goes into training pilots."

Reserve instructor pilots are usually very senior compared to first assignment instructor pilots, allowing them to play a valuable mentor role.

"Most of the reservists are older so they bring a level of experience that a lot of the younger instructors don't have," Parrott said. "We not only train the student pilots, but we also provide continuity for the active-duty component and serve as mentors for new instructors as well."

TFI within the 340th has played a large role in training Airmen all around the country, from producing pilots to creating Military Training Instructors.

"I think TFI is such a high priority because it has been so successful," said Lt. Col. Larry George, 43rd FTS Commander. "Our instructors have the experience, skill and motivation, which allows them to be highly productive for the Air Force. Even though some of our members are no longer full-time, they still want to contribute. They can contribute in a very cost effective and efficient way, which is great for the Air Force overall."

The number of Airmen contributing to the mission from a reserve component has grown substantially over the past few years.

"The 43rd FTS, in the past 14 or 15 years, has grown to over 100 instructors," Parrott said. "I think decision makers are learning that reservists can be a viable option for many positions that have been traditionally filled by the active duty.  I think the reserve and guard role will grow significantly in the next 5 to 10 years as a cost-saving alternative."

TFI is able to function well when there is a positive relationship between the reserve component and active duty. The 43rd FTS displays just how effective TFI can be.

"We are so integrated here at Columbus AFB that really the only way you can tell us apart from our active duty counterparts is by our flight patches.  We fly with the same students, fly in the same airplanes and wear the same uniforms as the active duty," George said. "We have a great, close working relationship with the active-duty personnel, and that's what allows us to work together and make the program work as well as it does."

The 43rd FTS flew over 10,500 sorties in FY14 representing 20 percent of the 14th FTW total.