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Reservist Seymour tells Buckeye council local reservists train F‑35 pilots, fill active‑duty shortfalls
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Summary
At a Buckeye City Council meeting, Seymour described the reserve's global deployments and local ties, saying reservists help train F‑35 pilots, provide specialized medical and firefighting responses and often fill active‑duty shortfalls. He framed reservists as experienced personnel who support Luke Air Force Base and the West Valley economy.
Seymour, a reservist who spoke to the council, said the Reserve has personnel at multiple locations and plays an active role in training and operations that affect Buckeye. He listed rough personnel counts — about 1,500 at Luke, roughly 550 at Davis‑Monthan and about 225 at other sites — and said reservists are deployed across dozens of countries and continents.
Seymour emphasized the Reserve’s operational tempo and its role filling active‑duty shortfalls. "When Congress and the joint commanders say we need x from the reserve, we exceed what they ask for by 345%," he said. He described reservists as experienced instructors and maintainers who provide continuity for squadrons and noted units shifting from A‑10s to the F‑35 mission.
The presentation included training examples and local impact: aeromedical staging reservists who move burn patients to regional hospitals, firefighters who responded to missile impacts, and security forces who train alongside active‑duty partners. Seymour said about $60,000,000 is invested in training an F‑35 instructor pilot over a decade and argued that retaining that experience locally offers a return on that sunk cost.
"The reserve provides some career portability...the reserve airmen cost you about 27¢ on the dollar of what our active‑duty partner does," Seymour said, describing long‑term savings and workforce flexibility.
Council members thanked Seymour and asked follow‑up questions about the Reserve’s value to Luke and the community. Seymour reiterated the Reserve’s contribution to pilot instruction, operational depth and community partnerships before the meeting moved on to the airport planning agenda item.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation; staff and the reservist concluded the discussion after a brief Q&A.
