Each member plays a part in the overall AMC mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrice Clarke
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  "In Afghanistan, Iraq and all corners of the world, Airmen faithfully deploy whenever and wherever duty calls. You fly medical missions, deliver humanitarian aid, move tons of cargo, and conduct air refueling missions for military forces around the globe, often risking your own lives to save others. Through it all, you have demonstrated the core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all you do. You continue to make us proud of the greatest Air Force in the world." -- Peter Pace, General, U.S. Marine Corp Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

With the recent completion and "Excellent" rating of the Air Mobility Command Operational Readiness Inspection; 6th Air Mobility Wing members have proven that they can carry out the mission in any environment. What the ORI and the recent Wingman Day taught wing members is that every person is important to the mission.

When the average person thinks of the Air Force their mind automatically goes to the pilot and the flying mission. Before any aircraft can refuel the aircraft that drops bombs on target it takes an entire base effort to get that aircraft off the ground.

"For us to complete our day to day mission and our wartime mission it takes the efforts of all the men and women here to get it done," said Maj. Matt Ashton, 91st Air Refueling Squadron assistant director of operations. "Everyone from finance, to base security, to the maintainers all play a part in launching an aircraft. Though pilots are seen as the top of the pyramid the layers under us give us the support to get that mission done."

MacDill does that mission without fail every day. The numbers tell the story. The 16 KC-135 Stratotankers assigned here in fiscal year 07 flew 13,023.2 hours and the three C-37 assigned here flew 2724.3 hours. When it comes to the KC-135, the maintainers here maintained an average 86.2 percent mission capable rating throughout FY07 which is higher than the 84 percent AMC standard. Those numbers directly relate to the more than a billion gallons of fuel passed by AMC tankers since 9-11.

In the end, it's the individual getting their job done and taking care of themselves which was stressed during 6 AMW's Wingman Day held Oct. 31.

"We can't accomplish the mission without each and every one of you," said Col. Robert Thomas, 6 AMW wing commander, before the beginning of the wing run. "That means taking care of you, but your families as well."

Wingman day focused on the fitness aspect, the healthy lifestyle aspect and the Wingman concept.

"Fitness is imperative in today's Air Force," said Colonel Thomas. "Anyone whose deployed knows the energy and strength it takes to work a 12-hour shift in 110 degree weather wearing your helmet, armor and carrying a weapon ... being physically fit is critically important for all of us."

Whether refueling over the oceans or securing the base right here, every person at MacDill plays a part in the entire mission.