733d AMS goes rapid

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Robert Hicks
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  

Maj. Gen. John Klein, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Courtney Freeman, USAFEC command chief, conducted a unit immersion with the 733d Air Mobility Squadron, here, Mar. 22, 2023, as part of their visit with units of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing throughout the Pacific.

During the visit the command team had the opportunity to meet first-term Airmen going through Port Dawg University, toured the passenger terminal and gained first-hand experience on the Aircraft Maintenance Production Simulator.

“Port Dawg University is a great addition to the unit, we need to find a way to expand this at all levels and across career fields,” Freeman said. “It’s a game changer in the on-ramping process and can help solidify unit culture throughout the ranks.”

The 733d AMS is currently in the process of shifting their focus from a fixed enroute node into a power projection platform that creates Rapid Nodal Flexibility on demand. This will allow the 618th Air Operations Center the ability to dynamically lift and shift forces to alternate locations to meet the demand of Combatant Commanders.

One way they are planning to accomplish this is through their newly designed Air Mobility Teams. It will be a tailored 11-person team with the ability to operate under mission type orders at the speed of expeditionary warfare.

“It is important we continue to develop our AMTs to ensure they are a light and agile force package that can be maneuvered across the theater rapidly in concert with airlift,” Klein said. “The days of fixed enroute operations are a thing of the past.”

Leadership is not taking their mission lightly and are preparing not only their Airmen, but their families for the possible missions that lie ahead.

“In line with Gen. Mike Minihan, Air Mobility Command commander, we started to focus on not only Airmen, but their families,” said Lt. Col. John Holland, 733d AMS commander. “I think we are in a unique spot because we are in the First Island Chain. A lot of the Air Force refers to this region as an away game, but not us, we are already here. We need them to understand what the pacing challenge means from a readiness standpoint because we see the threat daily.”

The 733d AMS is working closely with their Japanese counterparts, ensuring synergy is established well before the need. They proved their cohesion recently, winning a port dawg rodeo against other AMS units in the Pacific.

“We are steadily increasing our partnership with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and showing we can work together in challenging situations. It is very important that we continue to build upon it,” Holland said. The pacing challenge in the Pacific requires a team effort, and we’re all in at Team Kadena.”