ACC, AMC training centers collaborate to increase warfighter support

by Capt. Matthew Chism
U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs

7/23/2015 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, visited the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center to meet with Airmen who support, train, and execute the expeditionary mission at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, July 15, 2015.

His visit provided a rare opportunity for the Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command direct reporting units to have face-to-face discussions regarding best practices and look for opportunities to collaborate.

The Centers support more than 140,000 service members each year and share a focus in two areas: delivering the most relevant training and education programs and strengthening warfighter capabilities in contested environments.

The USAFWC has more than 11,000 personnel at 32 locations who ensure deployed forces are well trained and equipped to conduct integrated combat operations.

Conversely, the USAFEC is comprised of 14,000 personnel at various locations around the world who support rapid global mobility operations for Air Mobility Command.

"The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operations School represents one of the EC's four lines of effort," said Maj. Gen Rick Martin, USAFEC commander. "We also support the Air Force's expeditionary needs with our two Air Mobility Operations Wings, 621st Contingency Response Wing, and our units that provide efficient and innovative support at joint base locations. In all of these areas we are continuously seeking opportunities to increase the level of support we can deliver to the warfighter. This sometimes includes collaborating with sister services, foreign counter parts, or other MAJCOMs like this visit with Air Combat Command's Warfare Center."

This was General Silveria's first visit to the USAFEC, but the two organizations have a history of communicating to identify efficiencies, best practices and to avoid duplicating existing products.

"This visit has been an excellent opportunity to get a hands on look at how the EC executes the expeditionary mission," said Silveria. "We're going to continue looking for linkages to support each other. Specifically, we are looking for ways to increase our ability to test in degraded, contested and operationally-limited environments and I see that you all are incorporating these challenges in your training as well."

Silveria met with members of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School's 57th Weapons Squadron, Air Mobility Command's Advanced Study of Air Mobility, 621st Contingency Response Wing, and the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operations School at JBMDL during his visit.

"We value opportunities like this to showcase our school," said Col. Jay Junkins, USAF EOS commander. "It allows our team of outstanding cadre and staff to provide in depth information about the more than 100 courses, numerous programs and services we provide. It also allows us to obtain feedback and in this case ideas about ways we can continue adapting our products to better serve our joint, total force customers."

Leaders from both Centers agreed that nurturing the relationship between the organizations could have great benefits for individual service members and combatant commands.

"We have some of the best cross-functional instructors in the Air Force here," said Martin. "There is a mix of civilians, contractors and uniform wearers who are all committed to providing the best possible product to support the joint fight. I look forward to seeing where we can take our programs from here."