18th Air Force commander visits McGuire

Published March 29, 2007
By Senior Airman Rachel Martinez
305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- The 18th Air Force commander, his wife, and the command chief made an official visit to the 305th Air Mobility Wing March 22-24.

Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, his wife Linda, and Chief Master Sgt. Brye McMillon, visited several locations on base to review Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century/lean and energy initiatives and to discuss junior enlisted issues. General Hawkins was accompanied by his wife, Linda, who had the opportunity to speak with many enlisted spouses and see McGuire's school-aged youth and Phoenix Spouse programs, among other things.

Many of the locations General Hawkins visited included AFSO21 initiatives, a topic the general feels is important.

"AFSO21 is not only important to McGuire, the 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command and the Air Force, but it's important to us as individuals," he said. "It's important because of the way we are going to use limited resources and the limited amounts of time people have to get the mission done. We need to make sure we are being as efficient as we possibly can so that we are not wasting time."

"The other thing is we need to make sure that with AFSO21, that we are stewards of what the American people trust to us, what their tax dollars pay for," he continued. "It's important we give them the biggest bang for their buck. To me, that's what AFSO21 is all about -- how can I do it smarter, how can I do it better, how can I do it more efficiently? And I saw some great examples here."

General Hawkins saw two examples including the increased efficiencies of the maintenance consolidated tool kit and the repositioning of commercial cargo aircraft in front of the cargo terminal to decrease cargo-transit time.

Energy initiatives are another a hot topic since McGuire was recently selected as one of two test bases for the Air Force's new energy initiatives pilot test program.

"First of all, congratulations -- that's a great opportunity," General Hawkins said about the pilot test program. "The Air Force is going to give you some additional money to work energy conservation initiatives. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're going to get from all this and what you are going to develop that we will be able to use Air Force-wide, AMC-wide and 18th Air Force-wide."

The "Can Do" wing showed General Hawkins some of the energy initiatives already underway here. One example that General Hawkins said he had never seen before was a "Regenerator" vehicle used on the flightline. When refueling an aircraft, the fuel flowing through the vehicle drives a generator that then powers the battery operated vehicle. A second example was in the 3-Bay maintenance hangar where electrical power carts were being used to power aircraft requiring maintenance actions. The cord for the external power carts runs through an open door from outside the hangar, letting out heat and wasting energy. The wing recently acquired some money from the AFSO21 office to install an interior electrical power set-up that would fix the problem.

"Those are just a couple of the small examples of what you are doing to be efficient," General Hawkins said. "You are being good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars and good stewards of our environment."

During his visit, General Hawkins was able to see how Team McGuire embodies the Total Force concept.

"You are somewhat unique in that you truly have a Total Force partnership," he said. "You have the 305th, you have the 514th ... and then you have the 108th. So that's a great Air Force Total Force. But then when you think about what's going to happen from a joint base perspective and how you're going to have a coming together of the Army at Fort Dix and the Navy over at Lakehurst -- wow, you talk about a joint base, you are going to have everything."

General Hawkins said he sees many benefits of joint basing and the Total Force efforts at McGuire.

"It's a great opportunity for our Airmen to learn about the cultures of the other services and a great opportunity for them to work together before they deploy to the AOR and find themselves in locations working with other services," he explained. "That's another example of how by teaming together we can give our country the biggest bang for the defense dollar."

With so much going on at home-station, it's important not to forget how McGuire fits into the bigger picture and the Global War on Terrorism.

"When you think about what's going on in OEF and OIF and the way the sustainment of support is coming to all our troops over there -- that really is all done by AMC and the 18th Air Force," General Hawkins said. "We provide all the intra-theater airlift and air refueling. I'm very proud of what AMC and the 18th Air Force is contributing to the fight on Global War on Terrorism."

Before departing McGuire Saturday morning in a C-21, General Hawkins reflected on his two-day visit to McGuire.

"I really enjoyed the hospitality of the 'Can Do' wing," said General Hawkins. "It's evident in everybody I met -- evident in their smiles, evident in their enthusiasm. I'm proud to have you in the 18th Air Force."

Gen. Hawkins