Russ joined the Reserve Unit at Air Station Miami in October 1973 and earned his air crew wings in only 2 months. CAPT Schubert, CO of the air station, made the presentation to Russ with Russ's first wife looking on in December 1973. CAPT Schubert praised Russ for completing his training and becoming certified in less time than the majority of the active duty crew members. Russ previously served in the Air Force Reserve at Homestead AFB from 1965 to 1971 while he was an Eastern mechanic and he got out at the end of his enlistment. ADC Hunter Esty of the CG Reserve Unit at the air station also worked at Eastern and he talked Russ into joining the USCG Reserve.

Russ also pulled two 2-week active duty periods back to back at Air Station San Francisco in the mid-70's and earned his Aircrew Quals in the HC-130 there. He is also possibly the only USCG reservist to fly on an International Ice Patrol with the HC-130 guys from E-City, NC. Over time Russ was a qualified air crewman on the HU-16, HC-130, HC-131 and the HU-25. He is now in charge of FedEx's MD-10 conversion program at Venice and Naples, Italy, living in Venice and commuting weekly to Naples.