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All hands on deck: VR-64 arrives at JB MDL

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst welcomed U.S. Navy Reserve Fixed Wing Logistics (VR) Squadrons 64 and 52 from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, March 19 with an orientation briefing at the base theater.

The squadrons are transferring from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove because of the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

VR-64 is one of 15 Navy VR squadrons and one of five C-130T's Hercules units comprised of active-duty and reserve members who work full-time 24/7, 365 days a year.

"We are excited to continue our mission here at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst," said Cmdr. Brad Dunham, VR-64 commanding officer. "JB MDL allows our unit more operational flexibility and our servicemembers have a better quality of life, morale and welfare services with the three Warfighter and Family Readiness centers on base."

During the transition to the joint base, VR-64 brought over three C-130T's, 31officers and 180 enlisted personnel. This unit's primary responsibility is transporting people and cargo to support the needs of fleet and combatant commanders. This is accomplished through deployed operations that provide intra-theater lift originating in Bahrain; Atsugi, Japan; and Sigonella, Sicily. Additionally, VR-64 conducts within the continental United States and overseas inter-theater logistics missions that will now emanate from JB MDL.

"Our main mission is providing responsive logistics support to the fleet," said Dunham. "Even though we do not carry as much cargo as a C-17 (Globemaster III), we can fly into remote areas on short notice to deliver people, parts and supplies in support of Navy Operations worldwide, especially in support of humanitarian efforts such as have occurred in Haiti, Indonesia and Pakistan in recent years."

"Our unit is a complete, self-contained organization with all operations done internally," said Cmdr. Wayne Gunther, VR-64 executive officer. "Our pilots run the unit and fly the missions. Our maintenance personnel handle all of our scheduled and unscheduled unit level maintenance. We do our own entire mission planning and also operate our own administration, training and safety departments. Additionally, our air crewmen serve in maintenance or another department when not flying, and are trained to conduct maintenance on the road if need be. Each member of the team has been cross-trained in at least one or more fields."

The unit is also looking for more reservists and encourages all servicemembers who are thinking of making the switch from active-duty to reserve to consider joining VR-64.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the nation's only tri-service joint base. Active-duty, reserve and guard servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ensure total force integration by training, supporting and sustaining installation and global contingency operations. Together, the joint base is uniquely capable of projecting air, land and sea power in support of the nation's defense.