40th Anniversary of Dual Hatting of the Chief, Air Force Reserve.

Sunday, July 1, 2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of the United States Air Force's “dual-hatting” of the Chief, Air Force Reserve, as the principal advisor to the Air Force Chief of Staff (CSAF)  and as the commander of all Air Force Reserve units and personnel (today called Air Force Reserve Command).  Major General Homer “Pete” Lewis, USAF (Ret.), a former ROA National President, was the Chief, Air Force Reserve in 1972, who on 1 July 1972 convinced the CSAF to sign the order dual-hatting the Chief, Air Force Reserve.  Due to the success of the dual-hat program in the Air Force Reserve,  in the late 1980s, the United States Congress directed the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, and Marine Reserve Chiefs, all be dual-hatted as Chief and Commander of their component.  


This program has been key to the shaping and the success of the Reserve Components and their operational readiness to meet the wartime requirements of the last two decades. As a Component, and not a Command, the Reserves are amplified more under Title 10 of the United States Code. These Components report directly to the President and are individually responsible to recruit, train and retain service members. Further, each Component is responsible to properly budget and  equip units to serve along with their active duty counterpart in both times of war or national emergency, and times of peace to ensure adequate national security. Dual-hatting isn't just another title for Reserve Chiefs; it structures the Reserves Components into what they are today.