Mobility Support Advisory squadrons reach full operational capability

by Tech. Sgt. Lesley Waters
621st Contingency Response Wing public affairs

1/14/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE, Calif.  -- One year after achieving initial operational capability, the Air Force's only two Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons reached full operational capability Dec. 1.

"Achieving full operational capability tells Air Force leaders we are ready to perform our mission in support of national security objectives," said Lt. Col. Gabriel Griess, 571st MSAS commander. "To date, our role has been to train ourselves in the art of air advising. Going forward, we will execute the mission as defined for us by the Regional Combatant Commands and their air components in conjunction with U.S. military groups in each respective country."

Collectively, the two squadrons are a key component of the Air Force support to the Department of Defense building partner capacity efforts. By mentoring, advising and instructing partner nations air forces, squadron members will help achieve the goal set by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in last January's strategic guidance, namely to enable partners to share "the costs and responsibilities of global leadership."

The two squadrons belong to the 621st Contingency Response Wing, which is headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The 571st MSAS is based here and the 818th MSAS at JB MDL. The 571st MSAS supports U.S. Southern Command objectives in Central and South America while the 818th MSAS supports U.S. Africa Command.

Prior to full operational capability, MSAS Airmen have engaged in extensive training, including: an air advisor course, an academic instructor course, and a survival, evasion, resistance and escape course. Additionally, each MSAS requires language training - Spanish for 571st MSAS Airmen and French for 818th MSAS Airmen - enhancing the ability of Airmen to relate and communicate with partner nation Airmen.

"Our air advisors are language-ready and culturally-trained, so they can respond anywhere in the world," said Paul Judge, AMC Expeditionary Mobility Office. "Our mantra is 'build the Air Mobility System by building partner capacity,' so our mission focuses on sustained visits and hands-on training, until a partner nation operates independently and, when needed, in concert with AMC. It's absolutely imperative we do more than just visit - building capacity with highly-trained and dedicated Airmen results in true partners."

With the two squadrons finally at full operational capability, MSAS Airmen are now focused on forging relationships and sharing best practices with partner nations on an Airman-to-Airman level; a tactical mission with a global impact.

"In a time of fiscal constraint, the partnership between the military and the Department of State that allows us to send air advisors into a country to help enhance their capacity represents a sound investment for the American taxpayer," said Paul Harrison, AMC political advisor.

The 152 MSAS air advisor billets in each squadron bring with them more than 30 different skill sets, enabling them to exchange ideas with partner nations on a host of subjects, including aeromedical evacuation, command and control, communications, airfield operations, aerial support, aircraft maintenance and other related support functions.

"The individual air advisor is the key," said Col. John Cairney, the 621st CRW's vice commander. "They have some equipment, but the value they really bring is themselves. These are well-trained and professional Airmen."

The Air Force has a growing base of air advisors with knowledge and real-world experience overseas. According to Air Force leaders, the goal is to capitalize on this base of talent by providing them with the resources to carry out their mission.

"We must ensure Mobility Support Advisory Squadrons are properly equipped and resourced to deploy to partner nations to develop, enhance and sustain core air mobility operational capabilities such as Command and Control, aerial port and aircraft maintenance," said Maj. Gen. William Bender, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander. "This emerging mission set is important because building partnerships is a core USAF function, and these squadrons will play an essential role in establishing and maintaining relationships with strategic partner nations."