513th reservists to fly in RIMPAC 2014

by Staff Sgt. Caleb Wanzer
513th Air Control Group public affairs

7/16/2014 - TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. -- About 60 reservists from the 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron and the 513th Air Control Group are set to participate in the world's largest military naval exercise this week at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, is a joint-naval exercise held biannually that involves armed forces from countries around the world. This year's exercise involves more than 40 ships and submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 22 nations.

The reservists, who fly and maintain E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System, have been to RIMPAC once before in 2010.

Lt. Col. Louis Fournier, the assistant director of operations for the 970th Airborne Air Control Squadron, said that their aircrews will represent the only Air Force airborne command and control in the entire exercise.

"We'll be the only Air Force AWACS in the skies, but we look forward to integrating with the Navy E-2 Hawkeyes that will also be supporting the exercise," Fournier said.

The E-2 Hawkeye fulfills an airborne warning and control mission similar to the Air Force's E-3 Sentry and is capable of operating from a carrier. The E-3 is capable of tracking aircraft and ships at a range of more than 250 miles, providing airborne command and control of U.S. and allied forces.

According to Fournier, the 513th reservists will gain valuable experience deploying and operating with other U.S. and allied assets that is rare on a typical training mission. The aircrew members won't be the only ones to benefit, either.

"For us to be successful, it takes a team effort," he said. "We take our own maintainers who will have to perform all of their normal tasks on the jet in a completely different environment."

The 513th AWACS Airmen will join reservists from the 507th Air Refueling Wing, who are currently flying refueling missions in support of RIMPAC. The 507th flies and maintains the KC-135 Stratotanker.