America's Global Mobility - a total team effort
By Col. Dave Thurston
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AMCNS) -- "One team, one fight" is the rallying cry for all mobility warriors who make up the total force team. And nowhere is it more evident than at an Air Force Reserve base and two Air National Guard units that are key elements of the airlift and tanker airbridge over the Atlantic Ocean.
These units provide the en route support, maintenance and fuel - both on the ground and in the air - that keep people and supplies flowing toward Europe and Southwest Asia.
To underscore the importance of their contributions, Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, vice commander of Air Mobility Command, paid a visit Feb. 8 to the men and women at Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H.; and Bangor International Airport, Maine.
Baker and several members of his staff first stopped at Westover where the commander of the 439th Airlift Wing, Brig. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, introduced members of his unit in a typical New England winter setting of snow and ice. Although most of the wing's 16 C-5 Galaxys are deployed around the globe, there was no shortage of them on the Westover ramp because of the increase of C-5 airbridge traffic.
In addition to its assigned aircraft, the 439th also services, refuels and performs minor maintenance on other C-5s carrying troops and cargo for the build up of forces in Southwest Asia. Reservists from the 433rd AW, Lackland AFB, Texas, and other Air Force Reserve units, are augmenting the 439th.
"We've been pretty busy with a constant flow of aircraft, but morale is extremely high, and everyone here is proud of what we are doing," said Mazick.
Staging for overseas operations has been a Westover mission since World War II and is a point of obvious pride for unit personnel.
"This base played a major role in the Berlin Airlift and many other important operations over the years," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Biscoe, "so there's a lot of history right here at Westover."
In addition to servicing the aircraft, the 439th also takes special care of the crews and passengers during brief stops at Westover. The unit provides meals, a 24-hour mini-exchange, lounge area and even cots in an indoor "tent city" set up in a hanger. Wing personnel and USO volunteers work to make the weary travelers as comfortable as possible during their stay. During his visit, Baker greeted a number of soldiers and Marines waiting the resumption of their flights.
In a meeting with 439th personnel Baker said, "I wanted to let everyone know how much General Handy (John W., commander, U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command) and I appreciate the effort that's gone into making this work. It's a complicated business, and you are making it look easy, but we know it's tough. Keep up the great work!"
Baker's next stops were at two key Air National Guard bases, Pease ANGB and Bangor IAP that make up the Northeast Tanker Task Force. Those units are responsible for ground and aerial refueling for Air Mobility Command's airlift fleet crossing the air bridge to Europe and beyond. They also refuel a wide variety of Air Force, Navy and Marine fighter jets flying east as part of the current build up of forces.
Col. Matt Musial, ANG advisor to the AMC commander, said the bases at the far northeast part of the United States help extend the "legs" of AMC global reach missions. Each of the bases are about the same distance to the aerial refueling track over the Atlantic, providing vital redundancy in the system to avoid weather and other factors that could adversely affect critical support missions over the Atlantic.
Musial, who accompanied Baker on the visits, said the air refueling assets at both bases are "rainbowed," meaning they are composite organizations. The 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease has been joined by airmen deployed from the 128th ARW of the Wisconsin ANG at Milwaukee. At Bangor, the 101st ARW is augmented by members of the 161st ARW, a Guard unit from Phoenix, Ariz.
Maj. Gen. Joseph K. Simeone, deputy assistant adjutant general for air in New Hampshire and the ANG assistant to the AMC commander, welcomed Baker and his group to Pease. NHANG Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Kenneth R. Clark and Col. Richard P. Martell, commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing, joined Simeone to welcome Baker and his group.
A question-and-answer session for a large group of Guardsmen raised a host of concerns about their potential mobilization but also demonstrated their resolve to continue their vital role in the Global War on Terrorism.
"It's amazing what these folks are doing in support of our nation," observed Baker. "In many cases, they have voluntarily left their civilian jobs and families to help make sure America can get forces to the fight and sustain them while they are there. These great patriots are putting America's needs before their own."
During the last stop of the day at Bangor, Col. Don E. Reynolds, commander of the 101st ARW of the Maine Air National Guard, met Baker on a cold, wind-swept ramp. Reynolds took advantage of the opportunity to highlight the challenges of both the weather and an ever-growing mission.
"Our folks are working really hard on behalf of Air Mobility Command," said Reynolds. "During 2002, we offloaded 75 percent as much fuel as a typical active duty base but with only 15 percent of their assigned fuel specialists."
To sustain the intense airbridge operations tempo, 45 maintenance and support personnel from seven other ANG and active duty units augment the 101st. That is in addition to three KC-135 aircraft, crews and 33 support personnel from the 161st ARW at Phoenix. Together, they have taken what was already one of the Air Force's busiest transient support centers and converted it to an around-the-clock operation that is essential to the continued success of the airbridge.
Baker finished the trip impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm of everyone he encountered.
"Our Reserve and Guard teammates are carrying a heavy load, and we couldn't fulfill the mobility mission without them. They are doing an outstanding job managing a complicated mixture of air traffic, maintenance and air refueling challenges, many times on very short notice. We couldn't keep the bridge open without them. It's a great team effort and one we all recognize and appreciate."
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