621 CRW restructuring to enhance mission

5/29/2015 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Air Mobility Command officials announced plans on April 23 to restructure functions of the 621st Contingency Response Wing as part of an ongoing process enhancing the organizations' effectiveness and efficiency in global air mobility operations.

The CRW will maintain the same mission to support air mobility operations worldwide. The wing is tasked with rapidly deploying its approximately 1,500 Airmen to quickly open and operate airfields, establish, expand, sustain and coordinate air mobility operations and liaise with partner nations to foster the development of their air mobility systems through education and outreach.

"This realignment of one of our core capabilities -- our contingency response organization -- will allow these units to operate even more effectively," said Gen. Darren McDew, AMC commander. "Ultimately our goal is to provide an unrivaled team of contingency response experts to the fight, whenever and wherever called."

The bi-coastal wing currently has a total of six groups located at both JB MDL and Travis Air Force Base, Calif., -- four contingency response groups, and two contingency operations support groups. Restructuring will include inactivating these six groups and activating three new groups. The CRGs will be combined to create a single group at each base - the 821 CRG at Travis AFB and the 621 CRG at JB MDL. This restructure will enhance communication flow and better align equipment responsibility. With the inactivation of the COSGs, a newly formed 621st Air Mobility Advisory Group located at JB MDL will be responsible for developing global mobility advisors and providing planners to worldwide air operations centers. The 621 AMAG will also stand up the first-ever squadron to oversee air mobility liaison officers.

The reorganization process was initiated on May 28 when the 817th Global Mobility Squadron and Global Mobility Readiness Squadron inactivated and the 621st Contingency Response Squadron activated. This date marks the beginning of the inactivation of 17 units and formation of 12 newly activated units. All realignment actions are expected to be complete by the end of June. "The current restructuring builds upon the success of the previous efforts in 2012 which unified operations under the 621 CRW at JB MDL," said Maj. Gen. Rick Martin, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander. "These internal changes provide more leadership at the NCO level, better define the roles and responsibilities in the Wing, and assign a single point of ownership of the equipment that the CRW needs to provide rapid global mobility."

Col. James Copher, 621 CRW commander, emphasized that although the names of the units will change, the CRW's mission will not. "The CRW -- AMC's mission ready mobile force -- remains one wing, one team that provides one response to world crises. By opening, operating, and closing bare airfields at a moment's notice, while continuing to advise and build partnerships, we remain ready to answer the call of those in need whenever and wherever across the globe as it arises," Copher said.  "Our improved unity of command will allow us to deliver the same rapid response and dedication when called upon as we have in the past."