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Contingency Response Wings display capabilities

  • Published
  • By 615th Contingency Response Wing
  • 615th CRW
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Crumbling buildings, broken sewer lines, downed power lines and people trapped by debris and needing medical assistance can happen anytime, anywhere. No matter what type of disaster, whether caused by acts of nature or humans, the situation can seem overwhelming and wreak havoc on an affected area's infrastructure. 

The key to overcoming the effects of a crisis is communication--people talking to people about what they need and how they are going to get that need met as soon as possible. For two unique units in AMC, responding to that need or crisis is their mission and they can do it in 12 hours. One of those units is the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis AFB. The other is the 621st CRW at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. 

Experts from the 615th and 621st Contingency Response Wings will be displaying their capabilities at the Scott AFB Airman's Leadership School Pavilion Aug. 18 - 20 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily. 

The 615th and 621st Contingency Response Wings are specialized units that provide a multifunctional and rapidly deployable capability to extend existing AMC infrastructure and respond to crises throughout the world. The wing's expertise includes setting up air bases, working command and control, running aerial ports, performing aircraft maintenance, and providing security and communications. 

The unit provides support using a communications package of satellites, computers, phones, radios--an array of devices to communicate with anyone in the world. The unit can be ready to leave within 12 hours of notification and be fully operational within 12 hours upon arrival at the deployed location. The unit's Airmen provide communication any mission may require from secured and unsecured e-mail and Internet to air-to-ground communications. 

The units are designed to support any type of situation. The Airmen have supported major operations such as operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, presidential movements, tsunami support, hurricane response, flood relief and wildfire support. Last year, they provided support for President Bush. They were also involved with evacuatimon and relief efforts for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.