AMC commander tours 380th AEW

Published July 2, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing recently received a visit from Gen. Art Lichte, Air Mobility Command Commander, during his tour of the Central Command Area of Responsibility to evaluate how AMC assets are supporting current overseas contingency operations.

He took the opportunity to view the 380th AEW operations and receive briefings on how AMC is contributing to those operations in today's deployed environment.

"When you see people in the wing here, you can't help but be impressed," General Lichte said. "I was the first one here leading the KC-10s and remember sweeping sand out of the hangars; it's grown a great deal."

General Lichte also took the opportunity to tell Airmen about the KC-X tanker project and the significant impact it will have on future missions.

"The KC-X will be a game changer," he said.

The new airframe will do more than ever before, including refuel with both boom and drogue, contain defensive systems, carry more fuel, allow for digital transfer of information, and tie into the aero medical evacuation mission.

"The defensive systems will allow the KC-X to get closer to the fight," said General Lichte. "After completing the refueling mission, if there are casualties that need to be evacuated, the aircraft can land, load the patients, take off, refuel in the air, and continue all the way back to the states if necessary."

Upon his return to AMC, General Lichte will take back information from Airmen about everything from the way they get to their destination to how AMC can better support the troops on the ground and in the air and see if improvements can be made.

Time and time again, the general hears "I didn't know the Air Force was doing that," when he talks about the missions Airmen are participating in. It should be known that the Air Force and AMC particularly, are firmly in the fight.

"Mobility aircraft fly two-thirds of the missions in the AOR," he said. "As of June, more than 9,000 AMC Airmen were deployed around the globe and since Sept. 11, 2001, we have completed nearly 133,000 patient movements, and airlifted 12.5 million passengers and more than 4.6 million tons of cargo."

With an eye towards future support platforms and weapons systems, the Air Force is preparing to stay engaged and increase efficiency for today and tomorrow's fight.