An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

AMC commander to 'Calico' wing: 'You're making a huge difference'

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Rusty Ridley
  • 313th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
WESTERN EUROPE --  Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., Air Mobility Command commander, spoke with Airmen of the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing on a recent visit to Western Europe.

He spoke of the importance of the mission being fulfilled and the speed in which the call was answered.

"Some Airmen had four hours notification from the time of a phone call to wheels up. The longest any Airman had was a day and a half between the phone call and getting here," Johns said.

"Over night 19 units, all of you, deployed from your home station to come here. That's why it's called the calico wing; because you came from all over our Air Force," he said.
"We had very few active duty folks available, so the guard and reserve picked up most of the mission," said Johns.

"You came at a moment's notice to support our mission here. You said goodbye to your families instead of good night. I just want to say thank you," he said. "You are making a huge difference."

A difference, he said, that has saved lives. "Had you not responded as quickly as you did, many innocent people would have been killed," Johns said.

General Johns took time to recognize individuals who were recommended by their supervisors for unique contributions and achievements.

"It all comes down to supervisors taking care of Airmen," he said.

The Airmen were reminded of how the mission is not about them, but the people they are helping.

"You'll never see the mobility force-active, guard or reserve-on the marquee," he said. "We don't do any of this for us; we do it for somebody else. Somebody else is the subject of the sentence and, in this case, it's the Libyan people."

Members of the wing appreciated the opportunity to speak with the AMC commander.
Tech. Sgt. Chris Blachford, a quality assurance inspector deployed here from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., has heard the general speak before. "He actually listens to folks and takes the information back," Blachford said. "I've got a lot of appreciation for him and that he takes time to talk with us. It's been productive every time we've talked to him. Something always happens as a result of him being around."

Col. Kenneth Bunting from the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., values the time spent with Airmen.

"I think it's a big morale booster for him to take time out of his busy schedule to come and speak with, not just the leadership, but all the Airmen," Bunting said. "It shows senior leadership in the Air Force do take the information they hear in the field as an effective way to address the issues and fix them in a quick fashion."

The general further clarified the focus of the mission.

"At the end of the day, why do we do what we do? It's because someone calls on us. We go and help them. We've never been busier. I'm proud of what you've done."