HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- A historic agreement was signed into place April 16, finalizing the association between the 388th Fighter Wing and 419th Fighter Wing here.

The Commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Ronald Keys, and the Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, Lt. Gen. John Bradley, signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining the way ahead for Hill's fighter wings, which will begin flying and maintaining a shared F-16 fleet this summer.

Total Force Integration between the Reserve 419th FW and the active duty 388th FW is the Air Force test case for future fighter associate programs. The MOU provides a framework for how the two wings will organize and operate.

While the active duty retains responsibility for the fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons, operations and maintenance experts from both wings will work together on a daily basis to accomplish the flying mission.

Hill's fighter wings will integrate as part of the Air Force's TFI initiative, which aims to increase combat capabilities and efficiencies among like units while capitalizing on the high experience levels of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard personnel.

"Our integration here is a necessity," said Col. Robert Beletic, 388th FW commander. "The Air Force is in a time of manpower cuts and consistent combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terror. We appreciate the support of dedicated Reservists, like those in the 419th."

"Our reservists are typically older, highly experienced and offer long-term continuity of daily operations at Hill," said Col. Gary Batinich, 419th FW commander. "The TFI association will help maintain aircrew and maintenance expertise and experience levels by capitalizing on the active duty Air Force investment in training while exploiting the resident experience of our Reservists."

The Air Force announced the TFI initiative in November 2004, and both wings have been working toward the association since. Several maintenance shops have been working side-by-side for nearly a year, and in-flight guides and standardization evaluation procedures have been completed and are shared by pilots from both wings.

In the next several months, the wings' pilots and maintainers will begin working together even more closely as 419th FW's F-16 Block 30 fighter aircraft begin to depart Hill AFB for reassignment to Air National Guard and Air Reserve bases across the U.S.

Alternately, the 388th FW will receive approximately 15 F-16 Block 40 aircraft from Cannon AFB, N.M., raising its total to over 80 aircraft.

Later this year, 419th FW maintenance and operations personnel will deploy alongside the 388th FW's 4th Fighter Squadron.

"Our pilots and maintainers will serve as unrivaled wingmen to the 388th FW, and our support folks will continue to take care of 419th personnel," said Colonel Batinich.

"TFI has truly made us one team, one fight, one Air Force," said Colonel Beletic.

All 419th FW personnel will be administratively assigned to the 419th FW and will continue to carry out Air Force Reserve training requirements one weekend per month and two weeks per year. The 419th FW is also made up of about 500 support personnel who will not be integrated.