Mobility Airmen recover radiological material from Mexico

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
Air Mobility Command

8/20/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- Headquarters Air Mobility Command, in close partnership with the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration recently executed a C-17 Globemaster III mission to repatriate three Husman irradiators containing radioactive material from Mexico to the United States for final disposition.

One of the NNSA's primary missions focuses on nonproliferation efforts and they work closely with a wide range of international partners and key U.S. federal agencies to detect, secure and dispose of dangerous nuclear and radiological material.

According to an NNSA press release, the irradiators were provided to Mexico by the U.S. more than 30 years ago and have played a critical role in the eradication of a devastating livestock parasite, the screwworm.  At the time of their removal, the three irradiators contained more than 50,000 curies of cesium-137, a high-activity radioisotope that could be used by terrorists or other nefarious organizations to construct a radiological dispersal device.

Due to irradiator's significant size and weight -over 16,000 pounds each- a comprehensive plan was required to remove the items from the operating facility, transport them to a nearby airfield and properly configure them for air transport.  For nearly a year prior to mission execution, Senior Master Sgt. Toby McKnight and Master Sgt. Kim Fabian from AMC 's Nuclear Airlift Operations Division, provided the NNSA, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, critical subject matter expertise regarding various aspects of the logistics operation.

"The NNSA sought out AMC's Nuclear Airlift Branch and specifically McKnight and Fabian due to their C-17 experience preparing and transporting nuclear, nuclear-related, and sensitive cargo," said Maj. Anthony Cappel, HQ AMC Nuclear Airlift Operations deputy chief.  "With a combined 23 years of loadmaster experience, their unique credentials transporting sensitive material made them indispensable subject matter experts to the repatriation effort."

To ensure the irradiators would be transported safely and legally, McKnight and Fabian augmented DOE-led teams on two separate site visits to develop the plans, coordinate international agreements, and review host-nation support material and capabilities.  Among their many contributions, they designed a cargo preparation and tie-down plan and ultimately secured a special cargo certification by the Air Transportability Test Load Agency for air transport.

Despite a myriad of challenges, the DOE-led team worked closely together and kept the mission on track.  Fabian and McKnight helped coordinate equipment and an aircraft. A C-17 Globemaster III mission was tasked by the 618th Air Operations Center at Scott AFB, Illinois and flown by the 4th Airlift Squadron at McChord Field, Washington.

"Although, the irradiators were not classified as nuclear-related material, the 4th AS was tasked with the mission due to the units' experience transporting sensitive material," said Fabian.

The 4th AS aircrew transported the material from an airfield in Southern Mexico to an Air Force base in the United States.  The shipment was then securely transferred to a permanent storage facility.

"We all understood that removing these items to a secure U.S. location was a top DOE and NNSA priority," said McKnight. "This mission was truly a Joint and Inter-Agency effort.  I feel fortunate to have worked with such an amazing team to accomplish something so important for our national defense."

AMC welcomes a new commander

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

8/11/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command welcomed its 12th commander at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, August 11.

Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II took command of AMC from Gen. Darren W. McDew during a ceremony officiated by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III.

Welsh opened the ceremony by speaking about AMC's accomplishments since they inherited the missions of Military Airlift Command and Strategic Airlift Command.

"Over two remarkable decades you [Air Mobility Command] have answered the call of others so that they may prevail," said Welsh. "There is no place on earth beyond your reach. Whether it's the homeland or the beyond the horizon, you bring America's warriors to where the nations needs them and sustain them while their there. And they know no matter the conditions, you will bring them home."

Addressing the men and women of AMC for the first time, Everhart expressed his enthusiasm to continue to lead AMC Airmen and why they are the best at what they do.

"I am proud to be a part of this team and grateful for this opportunity to lead this world-class organization," he said. "When I think back on the events of the past decade, I have to thank our mobility airmen for their courage, determination and professionalism."

Formerly as the 618th Air and Space Operations Center and 18th Air Force commander, Everhart has played a direct role in the operational side of mission execution and was responsible for providing mobility and sustainment for America's armed forces worldwide.

"Our nation's adversaries are determined and are as dedicated in their cause more than they have ever been," said Everhart.

"That is why we must remain operationally focused and manage a fiscally constrained budget while providing our Airmen with the best training and equipment they need to accomplish the missions. While bringing new platforms such as KC-46 and putting them into the hand of the Airmen who need them the most. We must do this all as a total force."

During the ceremony, McDew expressed his confidence in Everhart's ability to continue to lead AMC's rapid global mobility mission.

McDew said, "It's been a privilege to serve as your commander. From the mundane to the monumental, you make it look easy. Every single one of you is vital to the AMC mission and to the defense of the nation. I thank each and every one of you for your contribution to the mission and for making Air Mobility Command great.

I can think of no finer officer to take the reins of Air Mobility Command then Gen. Carlton "Dewey" Everhart and his bride Michelle. He is a proven leader who knows our command and cares about Airmen."

As AMC commander, Everhart will lead all Mobility Air Forces comprised of nearly 132,000 civilian, active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve personnel. AMC sustains America's military operations worldwide through its airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. The command also responds to humanitarian crises at home and around the globe.

Everhart concluded, "The world and the warfighter need Air Mobility Command. You work quietly behind the scenes getting the mission done and answering our nations call. There is no doubt you are the best at what you do. I know the challenges we face are daunting but here is my pledge to you: Michelle and I will be right there with you, supporting you and your families every step of the way. Together we will continue to provide unparalleled rapid global mobility.

Mobility Airmen provide care to stranger during fire emergency

by Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

8/4/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Maj. Jim Cote was driving to his new job at Air Mobility Command Headquarters, July 29, when he saw a man on fire on the side of the road in Shiloh, Illinois.

According to St. Clair County authorities, the riding lawnmower operator attempted to mow too close to a ditch.  The mower overturned, trapping the operator and dousing him with gasoline.  Seconds later, the gasoline ignited.

"Just within a matter of seconds, he burst into flames," said Cote, an Air Force aero-medical nurse. He said the man came running out of the area engulfed in flames.

Cote was the first person on scene and as he instinctively rushed to aid the seventy-four year old victim, he immediately applied his military and medical training.

"I ran across the street ... to put the flames out with my uniform shirt," Cote said. "Then others, including more Airmen, stopped to help.  It took about three ABU [Airmen Battle Uniform] tops before [the flames were extinguished]."

All the while, Cote said the mower was still on fire only ten feet away.  The victim was airlifted from the scene minutes later.

Shortly after, the local community learned that the elderly man did not survive.

Cote has been a nurse for more than seventeen years and says, from his experiences, it helps to talk about these traumatic situations.

Cote concluded, "While I am still not sure how you train for this situation, I think my years of Air Force training probably taught me to just react, despite the danger, to do what [I] can to help someone in need."

AMC receives Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

by Air Mobility Command, Public Affairs

7/31/2015 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command recently received the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award by the Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council Awards and Decorations Branch, for the period of Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2013.

Significant contributions leading to the award include Mobility Airmen spearheading a $58 billion KC-46 "Pegasus" basing program and a $3.5 million Advance Air Refueling Capability Concepts program initiative.  Additionally, AMC designed an improved aircrew scheduling program, reducing fuel consumption by 4.1 million gallons a year, all while continuing to provide support to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and retrograde operations, removing more than 11,000 tons of equipment to include 307 combat vehicles.

The Secretary of the Air Force authorized the AFOEA on Aug. 26, 1969 to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of U.S. Air Force organizations or activities. It is presented to Air Force internal organizations that are entities within larger organizations. They are unique, unnumbered organizations or activities that perform functions normally performed by numbered wings, groups, squadrons, etc.

Airmen assigned to AMC during the qualifying period are authorized to wear the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award ribbon.

Dover C-5Ms ready for wartime mission

by 1Lt Sarah E. Bergstein
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

7/20/2015 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del -- The C-5M operators and maintainers of the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings here have been breaking records and raising the bar for global mobility.

Due to Dover's C-5M performance throughout the past several months, Air Mobility Command's C-5M fleet is now one step closer to reaching Full Operational Capability.

"Team Dover's C-5M community, consisting of the 436th AW and 512th AW, exceeded key performance parameters for executing both wartime and peacetime operations under the C-5 modernization program, nine months ahead of schedule," said Col. Michael Grismer, Jr., 436th AW commander. "This means Team Dover is ready today to execute our C-5M wartime tasking; a constructive first step on the way to our entire AMC and AMC-gained C-5M fleet reaching Full Operational Capability."

According to regulations, Full Operational Capability, or FOC, occurs when all major commands fully attain capability to effectively employ C-5M aircraft.

For 17 consecutive months, Dover C-5Ms exceeded the home station logistics departure reliability rate standard (whether all of the scheduled aircraft took off on time) of 75.8 percent.

Team Dover also exceeded the AMC standard of a 75 percent Mission Capable rate. The MC rate (whether the aircraft is capable of meeting mission requirements) for the month of May was 81.3 percent, the third highest average in Dover AFB history. The previous two records were 82.7 percent in November 1991 and 81.5 percent in June 1994.

Additionally, Team Dover's seven-month rolling average C-5M MC rate is also above the standard at 75.7 percent.

Finally, the ability to now carry heavier loads over an extended range offers capability to support wartime missions and contingencies without having to refuel the aircraft.

"Our teams [the 436th and 709th Airlift Squadrons, the 436th Operations Support Squadron and the 436th and 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons] are making it happen at the right level and working through situations at a much lower level" said Maj. Danzel Albersten, 436th AMS commander. "The team effort between the active and reserve squadrons is enhanced by the great support of off-equipment maintenance from the 436th and 512th Maintenance Squadrons."

"Our maintainers care about what they do and understand the need for the aircraft to fly so they work very hard-- with pride-- on fixing the aircraft right the first time," he said.

Albertsen went on to say that when the entire C-5M fleet reaches Full Operational Capability it will drive home the significance of three words-- Rapid Global Mobility. For the Air Force, this means having the ability to project capabilities around the globe, anytime, anywhere, in force, and on demand.

The success of the C-5M at Dover can be attributed to the Airmen, training, technology, hard work, and teamwork, among other things, said Albertsen.

An example of how the maintainers have been successful is that newer systems on the aircraft eliminate excessive troubleshooting. Specifically for the C-5, the anti-skid system which keeps the brakes from locking up on landing would immediately cancel a mission and take between four and six hours to troubleshoot on a legacy C-5 "A" or "B" model, not counting the repair. Today's C-5M narrows the fix down to one gear and can be troubleshot and repaired in less than two hours, enabling the aircrew to stick with the aircraft and fly the necessary mission.

"The future of the C-5M enterprise mission is expanding because of the foundation built by the Total Force Enterprise," said Lt. Col. Matthew Husemann, 9th Airlift Squadron commander. "The maintenance and ops teamwork at both Dover and Travis [AFB] is built on a culture of excellence and grounded in the superb training of all Airmen."

"The mission support, medical, maintenance, and ops professionals have partnered to maximize the capabilities of this impressive aircraft," he said.

Husemann went on to say that the C-5M maintainers had a steep learning curve to understand and master the new systems, but they have worked diligently and overcome obstacles to provide the Air Force an outstanding Rapid Global Mobility platform.

He added that the other service branches lean heavily upon the Air Force's Global Reach capability; and the communication and teamwork in the C-5M has exceeded standards and raised the bar for excellence in the airlift community.

The C-5M brings new capability and reliability over the legacy C-5 fleet. Air Mobility Command exploited the Super Galaxy in the recent Afghanistan retrograde, where it was employed for the first time in an expeditionary role to retrograde 25.5 million pounds of cargo in 152 missions - all while closing out Camp Bastion ten days early, and setting record cargo loads in the process.

The leadership of both the 436th and 512th Airlift Wing's operations and maintenance squadrons recognize Team Dover's C-5M performance is more than just a consequence of the modified airplane--it is also a testament to the changing culture in the C-5 community.

"This is positive news for our Mobility Air Forces and affirms the C-5M program, which brings proven operational capability with fiscal responsibility," said Grismer. "Our young maintenance and operations professionals have changed the culture on how we operate this amazing flying machine."

Grismer also gave kudos to AMC's global en-route enterprise, which provides maintenance, aerial port, and command and control to keep the C-5M mission moving around the world.

He said, "Success would not be possible without our dedicated en-route teammates, who provide critical services in support of our global mobility mission."