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615th CRW provides presidential support

  • Published
  • By Capt. Paradon Silpasornprasit
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing were there to smooth the way for President Barack Obama's two-day visit to Guadalajara, Mexico for a North America summit held with leaders from Mexico and Canada Aug. 9-10.

When the president travels, he relies on Air Force contingency response units like the 615th CRW to bring in the equipment necessary to facilitate his stay. For the president's trip to Mexico, the 615th brought in everything from the communications equipment the president and his staff used at their hotel to the official helicopters, Marine One and Marine Two, and the Secret Service ground transport vehicles. Nineteen personnel from 615th CRW returned home Aug. 14 after a two-week deployment in support of the president's visit as part of an Air Mobility Command Special Assignment Airlift Mission.

"This was the perfect mission for the 615th. We can go anywhere, anytime. When the president has to go, he has to go, and we can easily be there to support him," said Master Sgt. Bradley Riley, 571st Global Mobility Squadron mission team member.

The 615th deployed a cross-functional team of experts that included aerial porter, base operations, airfield operations, command post and communications professionals. Wing personnel worked alongside Mexican airport authorities and secret service personnel to facilitate moving the equipment into the country and then downloading it, and handing it over to White House authorities.

Riley explained their mission included being the eyes and ears on the ground for airfield management. The team deployed taking a small fraction of those functions that normally exist on base along with them. It took the rapidly-deployable wing less than a week to prepare for their mission to Mexico. The 615th CRW is a crucial asset for presidential support missions because it has the unique capability of providing a pre-packaged team of experienced professionals who have trained together, worked together, and deployed together.

In the past, teams would have to be pooled from several units, staffed through numerous command channels, and then piecemealed together prior to deployment. "This was a new kind of tasking for my unit, so for us it was exciting to actually go out and pool in smaller teams instead of the large package we usually go as," said Technical Sgt. Kimberley Overturf, 571st Global Mobility Squadron mission team member. During this mission, members of the 615th had a unique opportunity to provide assistance and orientation training to Mexican airport service personnel on how the U.S. Air Force Contingency Response Units handle aircraft command and control and ramp operations, said Lt. Col Manny Canino, 571st Global Mobility Squadron, mission team chief.

The 615th CRW stands ready to provide rapid and efficient support via its deployable force of experts, bringing the military's command-in-chief the assets he needs while traveling around the globe. "Supporting the president is the highest honor we can have as transporters and logistical personnel," Riley said.

The 615th CRW's cross-functional teams are well trained to deploy anywhere around the globe to support airlift operations supporting critical movement of personnel and cargo. From providing U.S. presidential support, assisting in evacuation relief efforts, and support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, members of the 615th CRW put their talents to work around the globe.