USAF EC 'Eagles' give AMC chiefs birds-eye view

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  More than two dozen of Air Mobility Command's command chief master sergeants were introduced to the ever-growing mission of the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center during a command chief conference here, March 1-4.

While visiting the Expeditionary Center, the AMC's command chiefs were introduced to all of the components of the Air Force's premier organization "providing airpower... from the ground up!" to combatant commanders.

The command chief master sergeants were also hosted by the Expeditionary Center for their annual board to select AMC's submissions for the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year competition.

"We have several opportunities to get together each year, usually at Maxwell (Air Force Base, Ala.) and Scott (AFB, Ill.), but each year one location changes and this year (Chief Master Sergeant David Spector) decided to bring the other command chiefs to the EC to show them what happens here to broaden their knowledge," said Master Sgt. Kristi Wilson, the executive assistant to Command Chief Spector, AMC's Command Chief Master Sergeant.

The leadership of the Expeditionary Center recognized the importance of communicating the organization's mission to the Command's senior enlisted leaders when the commander of the USAF EC, Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, noted the command chiefs "are our customers - we see each of you as a key partner in our endeavor" during a briefing to the group.

"We want to be responsive to you and your commanders' expeditionary support training requirements. Let us know your requirements and we'll work together to validate them and get the resources to ensure our Airmen get the training they need," he continued. "Please take home what you saw here and help us advertise what we do."

With each command chief originating from an organization home to hundreds if not thousands of Airmen, Expeditionary Center leaders repeatedly enforced the theme that all the units of AMC, as well as from across the Air Force, had Airmen in training throughout the year here to provide combatant commanders with Warrior Airmen with the right skills at the right time.

"This was a lesson as to what we can offer Airmen and the Air force in regards to expeditionary training," said Command Chief Master Sgt. Fitz Hentz, U.S Air Force Expeditionary Center command chief master sergeant. "It was an excellent visit - they got to know the mission and what the training does for the Airmen."

During the visit, the command chiefs were shown a variety of areas and courses available at the EC ranging from the Mobility Operations School courses focusing on providing instruction on air mobility operations as well as the Expeditionary Operations School courses such as Combat Airman Skills Training and the Phoenix Raven program.

"We keep the training with as much relevant information as we can to get those lessons out to the rest the community when it is needed," Tech. Sgt. Christopher Leonard, an instructor from the contingency response field training unit here, said during a briefing to the command chiefs. "Lately we draw on examples from the recent operations in Haiti to show air mobility has an impact such as opening air fields, employment, moving cargo, setting up a bare base and everything else that happens in austere conditions."

In another event, the command chiefs had an opportunity to meet a group of Security Forces dog handlers going through an improvised explosive device lecture taught by 421st Combat Training Squadron Explosive Ordnance instructors.

One student was identified as preparing for his seventh deployment to the amazement of the group. After hearing this, Chief Spector asked the group if the training was necessary, as many of the students had previous deployment experience as had attended other training courses elsewhere.

"Each course offers something new," said another SFS Airman in attendance, noting dog handlers also attended training at Yuma Proving Ground in Yuma, Calif., as well as Silver Flag exercises outside of Las Vegas, Nev., on several occasions. However, the other Airmen in attendance said this was the first time they had gone through the Expeditionary Center's course and were learning things specific to the EC mission.

"Our (plans and lessons learned) are continuously changing - as are the enemies," said Staff Sgt. David McLaughlin, a 421st CTS EOD technician teaching the IED course to the handlers. "Even if an Airman has just returned from their second or third deployment, this information has already changed."

After meeting the Airmen, Chief Spector thanked them for their service and let them know of the importance their particular roles were bringing to the fight.

"The performance of the Airmen during the visit was indicative of the professionalism of our center," Chief Hentz said. "We were definitely able to demonstrate our pride as 'Eagles.'"

Before leaving, the command chiefs closed with a question and answer session with General Devereaux focused on training topics as well as methods to gather feedback from recent trainees and other ways to capture the skill knowledge students possess prior to coming to the EC and once they departed.

"We were delighted to host you," General Devereaux told the chiefs prior to their departure. "Now market us when you return home."