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Air mobility, tanker support key elements of Global Thunder success

  • Published
  • By Roger Drinnon
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  AMC Airlift and tanker support were key contributors to the success of Exercise Global Thunder 09, June 24-30, AMC officials said.

Global Thunder 09 was a U.S. Strategic Command-led exercise. The exercise provided training opportunities for various service components, units and their respective command posts. During the exercise, AMC provided tanker and airlift support by coordinating and managing all tanker forces to include generating KC-135 tankers to alert and dispatching C-130 aircraft for critical airlift requirements.

"Our success came as a result of Total Force Integration," said Col. Peggy Phillips, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center director of current operations. "The combination of active duty, Air Reserve Component and National Guard personnel demonstrated the interoperability needed in today's environment."

The 618th TACC is AMC's global Air Operations Center responsible for coordinating airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation operations. On a typical day, the 618th TACC coordinates an average of 900 airlift and air refueling missions, moving nearly 2,000 tons of cargo and more than 6,000 passengers globally.

Colonel Phillips said the 618th TACC coordinated and managed more than 40 aerial refueling missions and several airlift support missions during the exercise. She said the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell AFB, Kan., also demonstrated rapid deployment capability during an exercise scenario.

"I believe we instilled a sense of confidence (among the exercise participants) regarding AMC's role in these operations," said David Dey, deputy chief of the 618th TACC's Task Force 294 Division.

AMC supports worldwide mobility operations for America's nuclear enterprise as well as for overseas contingency operations. Since Sept 11, 2001, AMC has airlifted 12.5 million passengers and more than 4.6 million tons of cargo in support of global operations. In support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, AMC has delivered more than 3.6 million tons of cargo and nearly 9 million passengers. AMC tankers also have provided more than 1.5 billion gallons of fuel in support of global operations since Sept. 11, 2001.

Global Thunder exercises are designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of USSTRATCOM and its component commands. This exercise provides the opportunity to incorporate the most current technology and techniques in support of these efforts. The last similar exercise was held in August 2007.