DVIDS – News – 349th OSS reservist crosses the pond

Senior Grasp Sgt. Rhonda Rooney acquired notification in October 2021 she was chosen as an alternate for the Navy Reserve Change Program. Rooney didn’t actually assume it will work out for her. However two months later in December, the 349th Operations Safety Squadron first sergeant acquired an sudden message. It was a request from the Chief of Air Power Reserve inquiring if she was nonetheless desirous about turning into a main candidate.

“I used to be tremendous excited to obtain an e mail from the Pentagon asking me if I want to be a main candidate and truly carry out the MREP,” stated Rooney. This distinctive coaching provides reservists the chance to work with reserve forces in Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Estonia.

MREP goals to broaden the member’s skilled growth and information concerning the host nation’s reserve program. The member is assigned to the vacation spot nation when positioned on a range roster.

“For me, this can be a nice alternative to share with our Airmen, the experiences and the publicity of various life abilities, and the way you study to create worldwide relationships,” stated Rooney.

Rooney arrived in England on July 31, 2022, for a two week keep on the English Royal Auxiliary Air Power Brize Norton, England. Throughout her go to, Royal Air Power Cpl. Graham B. Bufton served as her MREP nation associate. Bufton serves as a motion specialist with the 4624th Air Motion Squadron at RAF Brize Norton. He launched Rooney to a number of base organizations and their main capabilities.

It is a fantastic solution to study concerning the RAF,” stated Rooney. “They tend to multitask their profession fields. The RAF reservists truly deal with total processes from deployment starting to the deployment endpoint.”

On her orientation tour, Bufton took Rooney to a spot referred to as “The Hive,” the place pre-deployment preparations are arrange for the households.

“In right here, the households mingle and speak about issues they’ve and need to remedy. A few of them lack funds for journey or want transportation and there are additionally marital counselors out there for these issues too,” stated Bufton.

Rooney was impressed with the setups on the base. It was a spotlight for her on the tour. The 2 reservists shared concepts on operational assist, and mentioned actions they may take to create higher outcomes for his or her respective squadrons.

Bufton additionally expressed the variations he noticed between his mission with the RAF and Rooney’s squadron.

“She is from an unrelated part of the Air Power in comparison with what I do,” stated Bufton. “It was fairly fascinating to see how the American reservists take care of their individuals in comparison with how the RAF reserves take care of our individuals.”

The MREP agenda included an airshow inside driving distance of the bottom. They toured a wide range of worldwide plane on show.

“This was such an excellent alternative to increase upon the expertise and share with our members the commonalities within the completely different branches of service and the way they work finest collectively,” stated Rooney.

When Rooney returned to Travis AFB, it was her flip to be the host for Bufton and take him on tour of the reserve and lively obligation models on the bottom. Some stops had been the 349th Operations Group, 349th Operations Assist Squadron, sixtieth Operations Group and the sixtieth Medical Group.

In accordance with Rooney, Bufton was thrilled to lastly arrive and get targeted on the change program schedule, which occurred to coincide with the 349th drill weekend.

Rooney accomplished Bufton’s last week with stops at a number of navy models to look at distant piloted plane, explosive ordinance demonstrations and navy working canines in motion. It concluded with some California cultural immersion stops and visits to some native historic websites.

Because the RAF reservist was winding down his schedule to return to the U.Ok., Bufton stated, “It looks like each of our organizations are getting into the precise course as one drive, one unit, and we’re working for the protection of your nation and the protection of our nation.”

The reservists encourage those that have an curiosity in this system to use. The very best supply of data for MREP is on myPers. The Enlisted Growth Training Board or EDEDB is for enlisted MREP candidates. The college board is held as soon as per yr in June.

The Reserve College Choice Board or RSSB is for officer MREP candidates. These college boards are assist twice per yr in February and July.

For questions referring to the EDEDB or RSSB course of, questions may be addressed by calling the Whole Power Service Heart (TFSC) at 1-800-525-0102.

For utility course of, contact Maj. Paul Hizon, chief of AFR personnel at paul.hizon.2@us.af.mil or Maj. Elizabeth Wszalek, chief of mission administration at Elizabeth.wszalek.1@us.af.mil