AMC commander discusses mobility operations, state of the fleet, and the people who make the mission happen Published Nov. 13, 2009 By Mark Diamond Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- When the commander of Air Mobility Command took the stage during the 41st Annual Airlift/Tanker Association Convention and Symposium Oct. 31 in Nashville, his first words carried the tone of the four-day A/TA event. He reminded the audience of why they were wearing Airman Battle Uniforms and flight suits, rather than the traditional Air Force blue uniform. "We are a nation at war and we have Air Mobility Command Airmen, Total Force, as well as the rest of the Airmen in our Air Force, deployed around the [world] right now," said AMC Commander Gen. Arthur J. Lichte. During his speech, the general conveyed to the audience the important work air mobility Airmen and their partners have done, and are doing today. General Lichte took the audience on a trip through history as he discussed the legacy of air mobility's three core competencies: aeromedical evacuation, airlift and aerial refueling. He spoke of the first aeromedical evacuation effort in 1918 involving a modified Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" bi-plane whose rear cockpit was modified to transport a single patient. He spoke of the first airlift aircraft at McCook Field, Ohio, in 1918. Although, at the time, airlift hadn't caught on yet, he said the aircraft -- capable of transporting 18 passengers - was used to ferry the McCook baseball team to their away games. General Lichte discussed the historic 1929 flight of the Question Mark and the equally important flight of the Spokane Sun God that same year. He said both aircraft and their crews led the way for modern aerial refueling. "Our people back then did some great things that have brought us to where we are today, but I have to tell you, the people we have working in Air Mobility Command today are also amazing. And when you take a look at the things they've done over the last few years, it's pretty impressive." The general pointed out a single AMC statistic: "AMC aircraft accumulated 728,583 flight hours last year alone." General Lichte said although that single statistic is remarkable, when you do the math, it becomes even more significant. "Because," he said, "if you convert those hours into years, last year we were airborne for 83 years." The AMC commander also compared the past year's AMC mission statistics with the two previous years. He said when he first addressed A/TA in 2007, he thought the command was doing well. Then, he said, in 2008 the numbers increased; and in 2009, the numbers grew even higher. "That's what all of you are doing," General Lichte said. "You're all contributing to that mission. I don't care what career field you're in - I don't care if you're civilian, Guard, Reserve or active duty - you are all contributing to these great numbers. And these great numbers all translate to something you've heard time and time again: one [AMC aircraft] departure, every 90 seconds, 365 days a year. And that's what makes me so proud to be ..." On that note, the A/TA audience, more than 4,000 strong, responded, shouting "A-M-C!" "So proud to be ... A-M-C" resonated through the auditorium numerous times during the AMC commander's speech, as the general recounted stories of courageous and dedicated mobility Airmen. General Lichte also talked about the many AMC accomplishments during the past year. He discussed the retirement of the last KC-135 "E" model; the delivery of the first Mine Resistant Ambush Protected all-terrain vehicles to Afghanistan; numerous humanitarian missions, including those to South America, America Samoa and Indonesia; and the increasing airdrop rate in support of U.S. Soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan. According to AMC officials, from June through September, mobility air force aircraft airdropped more than 14.4 million pounds of cargo into Afghanistan, directly delivering much-needed supplies and aid to American and coalition warfighters. "It's been an absolutely amazing year," explained General Lichte. The AMC commander also discussed the state of the AMC airlift fleet and provided updates to several aircraft modernization and recapitalization programs, including the C-130 and C-5 Aviation Modernization Programs, the C-5 Enhancement and Re-Engining Program, as well as the need for a replacement for the VC-25 (presidential airlift). He said as long as the command continues to modernize and recapitalize, the airlift fleet is in pretty good shape. He then moved to the topic of aeromedical evacuation, calling that mission a "success story." "We've done tremendous things with [the aeromedical evacuation mission]," General Lichte said. "It's a promise we make to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine; if they fall on the battlefield, we will be there and we will get them home as quickly as possible to be with their loved ones and to get proper care. We really do have angels on the battlefield when you talk about our AE folks. They do an absolutely great job." General Lichte also discussed the command's third core competency, aerial refueling. "The command is doing a lot to keep its old aircraft flying," he said. "However, the KC-135 is just about pushing 50 [years old]. And if everything goes right in our recapitalization and modernization program, the 135 is going to be here until it's well over 80." He said the KC-10 is also no "spring chicken." He said the 25-year-old aircraft hasn't had many modifications since it entered service; however, he said the command is working to modernize the cockpit and take care of several obsolescence issues, such as outdated boom control units. "Tanker business is important," he said, "We have to start replacing these tankers as quickly as possible. It's absolutely important that we get on with it, because the tankers are getting older by the day." Following the command report card, General Lichte discussed what he described as the most important element of any command. "You can have the greatest equipment, you can have the shiniest airplanes in the world, but if you don't have good people, you don't have anything," he said. General Lichte said everything relies on having good people, which is why the Air Force has declared this the Year of the Air Force Family. And, he said, although AMC has always focused on the family, the command's goal now is to review what they've done for AMC families in the past, and do it even better today. "We've talked about our people, we've talked about our aircraft, and we've talked about our legacy, but it all comes down to what we do, and that is providing hope around the world," he said. "You've heard it time and time again, but it's true. You're the ones out there where the rubber meets the road, and we can't thank you enough. Whether you're active duty, guard, Reserve, civilian, or one of our industry partners ... everyone steps up to the plate. "This command delivers cargo, we deliver personnel, we deliver fuel; but we also deliver hope and we deliver promises. And we can do it because of the great sacrifices of each and every one of you. Nobody in the world can do what you do."