[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11000]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   513TH AIR CONTROL GROUP DEPLOYMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Bridenstine) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BRIDENSTINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute more than 40 citizen 
airmen of the 513th Air Control Group deploying to Southwest Asia this 
month in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria and 
also continuing operations in Afghanistan.
  The 513th is the Nation's only Reserve unit flying the E-3 AWACS 
aircraft. I am proud that the 513th is based at Tinker Air Force Base 
in my home State of Oklahoma, and it is commanded by Colonel David W. 
Robertson.
  I flew the Navy version of the AWACS, the E-2 Hawkeye, both on Active 
Duty and as a reservist. The AWACS is the Air Force's ``quarterback in 
the sky,'' calling the plays and managing the fight from an airborne 
platform.
  I know firsthand that the AWACS is absolutely essential to projecting 
air power. Without it, our forces would be like an orchestra with no 
conductor.
  Mr. Speaker, we just celebrated yet another year of independence. We 
should remember that our war of independence was fought almost 
exclusively by citizen warriors, ordinary citizens who put their lives 
on hold and at risk, many of them giving the ultimate sacrifice for our 
independence.
  The 513th continues our great citizen warrior tradition. Among the 
citizen airmen deploying are Realtors, IT specialists, and even a 
pastor. We should recognize that this is a voluntary assignment. These 
reservists have raised their hands and answered the call voluntarily, 
when less than 1 percent of our fellow citizens serve in the military.
  Mr. Speaker, the 513th demonstrates the value of our military's 
Reserve component and National Guardsmen. Looking across the 513th, you 
will find skill standards, capabilities, and operational readiness 
rates equal to or better than the Active component.
  When I was in the Reserves flying the E-2 Hawkeye, I can tell you 
that the amount of talent that we held in the Reserve component was 
amazing. It was very clear that these folks had the confidence, the 
capability, and the institutional knowledge to carry on the tradition 
of excellence that was in the Navy when they moved to the Reserves.
  The amount of talent and skills is also true with the Air Force. We 
saw it when you think about the fighter squadrons that fought in the 
opening days of the war in Afghanistan. The Reserve fighter squadron 
was the one that had the highest percentage of bombs on target.
  The Reserve and the Air National Guard are critical to our Nation's 
military readiness. It is important to retain and even expand the 
reserve component size, missions, and capabilities.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, while I rise to give a special thanks to the 
513th reservists deploying to Southwest Asia, let me also mention this 
unit's other recent accomplishments.
  To say that the 513th is in high demand would be a huge 
understatement. In the past 6 months, the 513th has controlled training 
missions for over 200 fighters and bombers, supported critical flight 
tests, managed air operation center support in Germany, and controlled 
eight large-force exercises, including Felix Virgo in Louisiana, 
Northern Edge in Alaska, and CHUMEX in Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by once again recognizing the citizen 
airmen of the 513th Air Control Group from Tinker Air Force Base.

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