MA support moves to Pentagon

by Master Sgt. Timm Huffman
HQ RIO Public Affairs

1/12/2015 - BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization's support for Air Force Reserve Mobilization Assistants moved from Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Dec. 15.

The MA population is now managed by HQ RIO Detachment 7, Operating Location-Pentagon. The staff from the Readiness Management Group's Detachment 29 provided oversight to the population through Dec. 12.

MAs are Individual Reservists, with ranks of colonel or above, assigned to back-fill general officer active-duty billets.  They are senior leaders in the Air Force Reserve that provide strategic and operational support to their active-duty Air Force organizations.

"Detachment 29 processed about 3,000 orders per year and oversaw $15,000,000 in manpower dollars," said Col. Jeffrey Moore, the outgoing Detachment 29 Commander.

Now that HQ RIO has assumed responsibility from the RMG, RIO Detachment 7, OL-Pentagon, will continue that support. The relocation of this function to the Pentagon will allow those supporting MAs to leverage the capabilities and expertise of Detachment 7, which supports Individual Reservists assigned in the National Capitol Region. Additionally, the move will allow the OL staff to synchronize MA support efforts with the Pentagon office that oversees all Air Force Reserve general officer billets.

According to Col. Christopher E. Cronce, HQ RIO commander, the move is important because it puts the staff in close proximity with the members they serve. "By moving to the Pentagon, my staff will be able to provide face-to-face service to the mobilization assistants," he said.

Lt. Col. Dion R. Flynn, the OL program manager, said the MAs will receive her office's full attention.

"This OL is committed to ensuring MAs maintain their readiness, complete their participation and execute orders," she said. "Our job is to provide administrative support to MAs, enabling them to perform their duties to support the AD mission; and that's the thrust of the Detachment 7 motto: 'That others may fly, fight, and win!'"

HQ RIO manages Individual Reserve Airmen that support over 50 separate active-duty major commands, combatant commands and government agencies.

Unlike traditional Reservists, who are assigned to Reserve units that regularly perform duty together, IMAs work with their active-duty supervisors to create a custom duty schedule that helps their unit meet mission requirements.

"We plan to continue providing the premier level of customer service that our MA population has come to expect," said Flynn. "This will enable them to continue to set the example for all Individual Reservists in terms of mission contribution, readiness and participation."