Dawn of new era begins at Travis AFB Published April 19, 2005 TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The dawn of a new era began April 11 at Travis when the new guidon was posted for the 615th Contingency Response Wing and the 615th Air Mobility Operations Group was deactivated here.The 615th CRW, which reports directly to the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, is Air Mobility Commands newest unit responsible for setting up bare-base operations anywhere in the world and fulfilling rapidly evolving, time-critical air mobility requirements for combatant commanders.You are watching history being made, said Lt. Gen. William Welser III, 18th Air Force commander, who was on-hand during the ceremony. We are setting up the second contingency response wing ever in the history of the United States Air Force.With the activation, AMC now operates two wings one on the east coast at McGuire AFB, N.J., and one on the west coast at Travis both tasked with the responsibility of providing the capability to open airbases and their supported operations anywhere on the globe when called upon.Referred to by some as the 911 crisis response force, the CRWs responsibilities expand the mission of the old AMOG construct, and now fully integrate every required skill set into one cohesive unit able to respond to peacetime contingencies like humanitarian relief and also in support of combat operations.The Air Force will have eight contingency response groups around the world six within AMC always ready to respond to the nations 911 call.Our motto is lighter, faster, smarter, said Col. Timothy Grosz, 615th CRW commander. Weve got to be able to respond at a moments notice, in order to accomplish this [setting up bare bases and air operations] with a light lean force we must work smarter, possess the right equipment and have the proper training.Each CRG under the 615th is commanded by a colonel who initially becomes the forward deployed base commander. Their mission of providing en route infrastructure and command and control is designed to be self-sustaining for 30 days.Once we hit the ground, we are expected to be up and running within 15 to 20 minutes, said Tech. Sgt. Ernest Medina, 570th Global Mobility Squadron. Once communications and the mobile command post are in place, the new airfield is open for business. Then its time for all the follow-on support functions and infrastructure to take hold and form the basis for temporary to permanent air base operations. This includes security forces, wide-band satellite operators and heavy equipment operators.During some contingencies, such as those in Banda Acheh, Indonesia, in support of tsunami relief operations, U.S. air base operations were only temporary -- but others, such as those in Afghanistan, are still in use today.You have been everywhere the fighting has been, said Col. Brooks Bash, 15th EMTF commander. You helped open the Northern Iraqi front and secure airfields. You helped open bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. You were there when we took back the POWs, when we captured Saddam Hussein, and most recently, you were there to support the hundreds of thousands of needy people through tsunami relief.General Welser spoke to the audience about the historical ceremony representing an example of the changing relationships of the way we fight wars. The CRWs and CRGs are the next step in successfully carrying out the mission more efficiently and effectively.We continue to be a country at war, said Lt. Gen. Welser. Weve been a country at war now for 1,309 days. One thousand three hundred and nine days ago terrorists attacked our country. In 1,309 days we have also improved the way we go to war. Air Mobility Command News Service is a service of the Internal Division Office of Public Affairs 503 Ward Drive, Room 214 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5335 618-229-7821