Military honors at Little Rock Air Force Base

Two members of the Air Force Reserve’s youngest unit were “tacked” as Chief Master Sergeants at a ceremony, Sunday, June 10.

Brian L. Bischoff and Donald S. Tarrance are the first to be promoted to E-9 – the Air Force’s highest enlisted rank -- as members of Detachment 1, 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command. The 17 month-old Det. 1 is stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. The unit’s mission is to grow as a formal training unit and partner with the Air National Guard to provide basic air crew training to the U.S. total force and 42 partner nations.

Chief Bischoff is a traditional reservist who serves as the superintendent for the unit of approximately 180 reservists. The Panama City, Fla., resident joined the Air Force in 1990 and commutes to Arkansas every month to advise the commander on all matters concerning the health, morale, welfare and effective management of the enlisted force.

“I was considering retiring when I heard about this incredible new unit that was being stood up in Arkansas,” said Bischoff. “I came up, met with Col. [Archie] Frye, walked around the unit meeting people and made a decision right then and there that I wanted to be a part of something special.”

Chief Tarrance works full-time as the loadmaster superintendent for the unit’s operations squadron, including supervision of the unit’s loadmaster instructors. The Pelham, Ala., native joined the military in 1980, and is in the process of moving his family to central Arkansas.