AMC commander visits 375th AMW

Published May 18, 2011
By Master Sgt. Sabrina Foster
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The commander of Air Mobility Command got a first-hand look at the 375th Air Mobility Wing and its Airmen during his two-day visit here May 11 to 12 as members of the wing "showcased" how they "Outshine, Outserve and Outperform" in all that they do.

Gen. Raymond E. Johns, along with his wife, Diana, and Chief Master Sgt. David Spector, AMC command chief, met with Airmen throughout the 375th AMW for an inside glance of how the mission is accomplished within the wing.

"While it might seem unusual to some that a commander who lives and works here would pay an official visit to us--his hosting wing, it's really an opportunity for him and his wife to meet many of the people behind the scenes who help carry out AMC's worldwide missions," said Col. Michael Hornitschek, 375th Air Mobility Wing commander. "You don't get that opportunity very much in the day-to-day headquarters business of leading the Air Mobility Command mission."

After touring many of the wing's mission areas, General Johns addressed Airmen of the 375th AMW in an all-call. He shared important messages about how to lead in today's Air Force culture and highlighted the many accomplishments of members of the wing and its mission partners--the 126th Air Refueling Wing (ANG) and 932nd Airlift Wing (Reserve).

"The chief and I have lived here for about one and a half years and I thought I knew a lot about Scott, but we learned so much from this visit -- more than I could have imagined, so thank you for all you do," he said.

General Johns asked the audience, "Why do we wear the uniform?" One Airman answered with "fly, fight, win, sir," and another answered with, "to protect and defend the constitution." He agreed that we indeed do those things, but said "there's so much more that we do" and reminded the Airmen that we do three things: global vigilance, global reach and global power.

He said that global vigilance is about knowing about the enemy. The enemy can be easy to kill, but hard to find. The Air Force is focused on the enemy through the use of its Predators, Global Hawks and Reapers. They are able to target those individuals who are planting improvise explosive devices and take them out without risking any injuries or harm to other people.
Global power is the ability to hold any target at risk any place in the world such as the use of the B-2 bomber. The B-2 can take-off and be anywhere in the world in 18 hours, "blow up a target and be back in the U.S. without anybody ever knowing."

Global reach comprises air refueling, airlift and aeromedical evacuation. "This base does all of that," said General Johns. "You're delivering hope, fueling the fight, saving lives, and providing rapid, responsive support to senior leaders. The Total Force Integration is so integrated here, that you're seamless. You all came together as Airmen, NCOs and officers to make this work, not because you were directed to by senior leadership."

General Johns pointed out the superb aeromedical evacuation mission at Scott and turned the floor over to Capt. Debra Sims, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron nurse, who spoke briefly about how her crew was alerted, prepped and processed within an hour of to fly to Haiti to support those injured by the earthquake. There were 290 patients moved from Haiti back to the states for care and about 170,000 patients have been moved since Sept. 11, 2001.

"It's not just aircrews and aeromedical evacuation crews making a difference here," said General Johns. "All across Team Scott, Airmen are doing magnificent work."

Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Nichols, 932nd Civil Engineer Squadron, took the stage next and spoke about his deployment to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Sergeant Nichols served as the deployed superintendent for more than 80 members of a counter IED support element. He directed three counter-IED teams, which operated out of eight forward operating bases, and he led 31 Airmen through 221 EOD combat operations, defeating 97 IEDs and cleared 3,437 miles of treacherous terrain.

The general then took a moment to talk directly to the audience.

"Let's talk about you for a moment," he said. "We are busier than we have ever been. Just think about everything that has happened in the last month. If you're a little tired, there's a good reason -- every time the nation calls, you answer and it takes great personal commitment and family sacrifice. That's why we need resiliency, and we have an Airman here who has demonstrated tremendous resiliency."

An example of that resiliency that General Johns highlighted is found in Senior Airman Brett Campfield, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, who deployed to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in November 2010 to support counter IED operations when a small pen flare accidentally fired and lodged in his eye socket. Airman Campfield went into surgery as soon as possible, but unfortunately he lost his right eye.

"He has motivated his entire flight with his cheerful outlook and healthy competitive spirit. He will be separating from the Air Force later this year, but has maintained an extremely positive attitude," said the general. Airman Campfield is concentrating on receiving his associates degree, and upon separation, plans to attend college and earn a degree in Physical Therapy.

The general also spoke briefly about the current suicide rate in the Air Force and why we need to stay connected to each other and how Comprehensive Airmen Fitness is about building a culture, not about program building.

"The suicide rate is very alarming," he said. "It is currently the highest in history. Everyone has a candle with a flame, and that flame is life. It represents our ability to cope with life's storms. No matter how bad you think today is, tomorrow can bring a better day. We need to look after and take care of each other. CAF is about Airmen taking care of Airmen, and surviving through adversity."

The general left one final thought for supervisors.

"Supervisors are critical; Airmen make the Air Force go and the Air Force needs to help grow Airmen. Be the type of supervisors and mentors that know your people. Show them you care and when something doesn't seem right and take action."

In closing, he thanked Team Scott for taking care of the mission and each other. "Thank you for what you do for each other. How you handle resiliency and the respect you show for each other is unparalleled. Always remember there's always something bigger than ourselves -- global vigilance, global power and global reach. Nobody does it better. Thank you for what you do and how you do it."