Reserve Advisory Council looking for innovative ideas

by Col. Bob Thompson
Air Force Reserve Public Affairs

11/14/2013 - WASHINGTON -- Got a great idea that can improve things for your fellow reservists?

The Air Force Reserve wants your input and has tasked the Reserve Advisory Council to represent all categories of Citizen Airmen and to bring their ideas to the attention of Air Force senior leaders.

Scheduled to meet on Nov. 18, the council has 13 members representing Air Reserve Technicians, Traditional Reservists, Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Active Guard and Reserve members.

"The Reserve Advisory Council is represented by 7 officers and 6 enlisted reservists to ensure connectivity to all ranks as well as various career fields," said Col. Carlos Hill, liaison to the council, and director of Policy Integration for Air Force Reserve at the Pentagon. "We want everyone in the Air Force Reserve to feel comfortable reaching out to the council no matter what your rank or duty status."

For more than 10 years, the council has brought several ideas forward helping to shape new Air Force policies and even new federal laws. Travel pay for reservists performing Inactive Duty Training more than 100 miles from their homes was funded by Congress thanks to the council's input in 2010.

"We want all reservists to know their opinions matter and their ideas can get through to make our Air Force Reserve better," said Chief Master Sgt. Desriann L. Stevens, chief, Policy Integration and liaison to the council. "When you contact a member of the Reserve Advisory Council, you're accessing someone who has input to the highest levels of our Air Force, Department of Defense and law makers on Capitol Hill."

The council is chaired by Brig. Gen. Karen A. Rizzuti, the mobilization assistant to the commander of 24th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Besides the general and her two liaisons, the council includes:

· Lt. Col. John A. Boccieri, commander of the 773rd Airlift Squadron, 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Vienna, Ohio.

· Lt Col. Tony Polashek, deputy commander, 514th Operations Group, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.

· Lt. Col. Tim Welter, Individual Mobilization Augmentee, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott AFB, Ill.

· Capt. Philip A. Spencer, 566th Intelligence Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.

· 1Lt. Kristen E. George, flight nurse, 459th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.

· Chief Master Sgt. Richard A Dawson, superintendent, Cyberspace Operations for the Operations Division, Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.

· Chief Master Sgt. Michael Du, superintendent, 4th Combat Camera Squadron, March ARB, Calif.

· Senior Master Sgt. Stephanie A. Moncalieri, superintendent, Business Analyst Division, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB.

· Senior Master Sgt. Sandra L. Plentzas, first sergeant, 944th Medical Squadron, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.

· Master Sgt. Jennifer B. Lynch, flight chief, Readiness and Emergency Management, Civil Engineer Squadron, 944th FW, Luke AFB.

If you have an innovative idea, contact a member of the council today.