Commuting reservists arrive with luggage, dedication Published Oct. 1, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- 419th Fighter Wing reservists across the ranks travel from all over the United States to participate in the monthly unit training assemblies here. They commute for different reasons but have one thing in common: dedication to the Air Force Reserve. Master Sgt. Stacy Pierce, the wing's judge advocate superintendent and a Houston police officer, says he took a Reserve job 1,500 miles from his home to step outside his comfort zone and bolster his career experience. "I went looking for a challenge," Pierce said. "I consider taking this job with the JAG and the commute to be stepping stones that will help me be noticed and advance my career." Pierce hopes to put on senior master sergeant stripes before retirement, while others are aiming for a commission. Senior Airman Errol Flynn, 419th Security Forces Squadron fire team member and retail store manager in Park City, Utah, also has career goals in mind. He aims for a doctorate in psychology, which, coupled with his security forces experience, could help him land his dream job: working as an Air Force intelligence officer. Each month Flynn travels one and a half hours from his home in Midway, Utah to perform his Reserve duty, but says the extra drive time is worth it because of the job skills he receives within his unit. His commander, Lt. Col. Susan Crum, 419th SFS commander and a stay-at-home mom in Texas, is certainly no stranger to a long commute. "Utah's mountains are so beautiful compared with the flat Texas landscape I'm used to," Crum said. "But I would have traveled to Korea, Germany, Mississippi, or anywhere to be a squadron commander again." While these reservists have different reasons for commuting, they all agree that certain intangible benefits can be more valuable than a Reserve paycheck. "I could get a part-time job for extra money and not have to deal with deployment stresses," said Pierce. "But we join for more reasons than just money." Flynn could have joined an Army Reserve unit 45 minutes from his home, cutting his commute in half, but he says distance wasn't a consideration. "I wanted to be part of a more elite group and I knew that the Air Force Reserve could provide that for me." Stay connected -- Join the 419th on Facebook and YouTube.