A year in command of a Community of Ready Warriors

  • Published
  • By Col. Jason Herring
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY --  

JOINT BASE MDL, TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE – A little over a year ago, I accepted the guidon to become the 12th 621st Contingency Response Wing Commander and what a year it has been. Across our four distinct mission sets, you all came together in July to execute Mobility Guardian at six different locations and absolutely crushed Air Mobility Command’s largest pacific exercise ever. From there your leadership teams moved on to gain a historic $14.7 million in unfunded requests to improve our expeditionary connectivity and security efforts across the wing. In October, you once again rose to the challenge deploying members from both Contingency Response Groups and the Air Mobility Advisory Group to deter further escalation of conflict in the Middle East after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.  

Additionally, each of our teams has worked diligently to advance joint maneuver capabilities in a way that is driving Air Force-level impacts. Our mobility support advisory squadrons continue to build critical relationships with partners and allies around the globe while moving forward to develop an advising structure that covers the spectrum of competition, crisis, and conflict. Additionally, under General Alvin’s direction, the team is taking the lead and moving out with a unified Air Advising model for our Air Force. Our air mobility operations squadrons continue to push the envelop of theater command and control by advancing capabilities at sea and inside partner nations while testing out federated operations to more quickly respond to crisis. The mobility support operations squadron continues to lean forward in small UAS operations along with expanding capabilities into the Pacific Theater. Finally, our two contingency response groups continue to test out new connectivity and security equipment while bringing our two newest squadrons to full operational capacity.   

Recently, Chief and I laid out three priorities for the wing – Community – Ready – Warriors – focused on building a supportive community of Devil Raiders, creating mission ready Airmen, and organizing a forward-thinking culture that inspires each other to success on the battlefield and life. These priorities are beginning to take shape as we focus our efforts across our four missions sets as we advise, direct, and project airpower, anytime, anywhere. It’s thanks to Airmen like you who allow this wing to lead our nation in all future fights.

As your command team, we remain focused on three areas that align inside the priorities above.  Developing each of you to be the best you can be for our Air Force and nation; ensuring you have the training and resources to accomplish your mission; and building a community that cares for one another. As we move into the next year of command, I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.

I challenge each member in this wing to seek opportunities to better yourself and the organization. I challenge you to find resolutions to friction points across the wing. I challenge all supervisors to look after your Airmen and listen to the obstacles they face and their ideas to improve our operational effectiveness. I challenge my direct staff to keep open communication up and down the chain of command. I challenge myself to always fight for you!

Each of you have proven time and time again that you are our nation’s “fix it” force as you bring order out of chaos when you are employed. As a CR community, we are uniquely built and have overcome many challenges that most wings will never face. Your resiliency and adaptability are unmatched. You have answered your nation’s call, and I could not be prouder to be your commander.

It has been an honor to serve alongside you and your families this past 12 months, and I look forward to blazing a path this year as you build a Community of Ready Warriors that can overcome any challenge thrown our way!

In closing, my overarching charge to our Devil Raider nation this year can be summed up in one statement: Lead boldly through the chaos and always Give ‘em Hell!

Col Herring