EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Active duty support is essential at the more than 250 reserve units throughout the country. The active duty support, provided by Inspector-Instructors, set up training schedules, provide critical coordination and administration support as they hold down the fort until the reserves come in to drill. At a typical unit there's usually around a dozen active duty personnel, but this is not the case with Marine Aircraft Groups because aircraft need to be continually maintained. One of these units, Detachment B, MAG-46, has more than 200 active duty personnel working on the aircraft and supporting the unit on a daily basis. A complex system, such as a helicopter, can't be left by the wayside until drill weekend. Marines maintaining the CH-46s and CH-53Es with Helicopter Marine Medium Squadron-764 and Helicopter Marine Heavy Squadron-769 need to be always on the alert and checking all the complex systems daily, so they're mission ready at a flip of a coin. "Without the support of the active duty Marines this place wouldn't fly, and the same can be said about the reserves -- they work hand-in-hand to keep this unit mission ready," said Master Sgt. Faosto J. Kelly, maintenance chief, HMM-764.The active Marines also serve as teachers when the reserves come to the unit for training."It gives the lance corporals and PFCs a chance to spread and reinforce knowledge to the reserve Marine," said Lance Cpl. Charles Blackford, airframes mechanic, HMH-769.The two squadrons fly and maintain more than 20 helicopters -- the same as active duty squadrons, said Sgt. Jeffery Kraus, crew chief, HMM-764."Having the active and reserve components together on a regular basis allows us to integrate easily when the time arises," said Lt. Col. Drew Crane, executive officer, Peacetime Wartime Support Team, Det. B, MAG-46.They have proven the integration once already, when HMH-769 was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and both squadrons will be ready for the next call of our country.