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375th AW showcases mission, people to AMC/CC

  • Published
  • By Col. Al Hunt
  • 375th Airlift Wing commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  This week, the 375th Airlift Wing introduced Air Mobility Command commander and his wife, Gen. Arthur and Chris Lichte as well as AMC Command Chief Master Sergeant, Joe Barron, to Scott with an orientation of the wing's missions by some of our showcase personnel.

Throughout the visit, we demonstrated three of our best practices - how we leverage technology, ingenuity, and manpower; how we integrate the joint total force into our operations, and how we share our benchmark ideas with others in the command and throughout the Air Force.

Leveraging Technology, Ingenuity, and Manpower

As the wing commander, I can confidently say one of our greatest strengths is our cultural mindset. It's the way we think about what we do and how we do it.

One of the consistent themes we demonstrated during the visit was how the wing has learned to examine work processes to find better, creative ways of doing business while capitalizing on current technology and tapping into people's talents.

The 375 AW, for example, is currently working with Mid America Airport to find ways to improve operations by taking the time to analyze which functions are redundant. The cost savings to both Scott and Mid America are expected to be significant.

Also in the operations world, the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 375th Aerospace Medicine Squadron are now using a high-deck loading system to transfer patients. This technology greatly improves the quality of care we provide to injured servicemembers.

In addition to using new technology, the 375th AW also relies on maximizing our people's talents both internally and outside the gates. For example, base chaplains have moved out of the comforts of the chapel and are now fully integrated within units across the base to provide more personal, hands-on service while maintaining 24/7 contact capability through the use of recycled blackberry devices.

Off base, we enjoy strong relationships with the surrounding communities. By leveraging ingenuity, the cities of Belleville, O'Fallon, and Mascoutah adopted dorms last year and host activities for the residents to provide them a sense of home. The community also comes out in full force to support the Aeromedical Staging Flight by adopting rooms to decorate and by providing blankets and clothing for the injured.

Community support goes beyond the dorms and ASF rooms to reach all of Joint Total Force Scott as was the case last December when country music star Craig Morgan performed as part of the National USO Care Package Program and Jack Daniels' Toast to the Troops.

The effective and efficient use of our manpower resources mixed in with the awesome support we receive from the local communities are integral to the wing's best practice of leveraging technology, ingenuity, and manpower.

Integration of Joint Total Force

As home to active duty, the Reserves, and the Guard along with personnel from all branches of the Armed Forces, Scott is unique compared to most military installations. What further sets us apart is the ways in which we integrate joint total force into our operations.

One stop during General Lichte's visit was to the 375th Command Post where both active-duty and Reserve servicemembers work side-by-side, resulting in streamlined processes and enhanced communication. Our active-associate relationship responsible for executing the C-40C distinguished visitor airlift mission is another example of Scott's total force relationship. Another ingenious method we will employ the total force is thorough the soon-to-be-built joint Security Forces complex, housing all Security Forces personnel - active-duty, Guard, and Reserve - to improve training and operations.

Joint total force goes beyond the operations world touching nearly all organizations on base. Whether it's U.S. Transportation Command's 'purple' team coordinating the movement of military cargo an personnel, the individual mobilization augmentees at the Tanker Airlift Control Center allocating an air refueling mission, or the active-duty communications specialists working with our associate units to secure networks, Joint Total Force Scott gets the mission done by working together.

Benchmarking Ideas

One of the many highlights of this week's visit with General and Mrs. Lichte was demonstrating how the 375 AW's best practices have spread throughout AMC and the Air Force.

No where was this more evident than when meeting with the 375th Security Forces Squadron. The 375 SFS has led the command with its Fight the Base concept of training all wing personnel on base defense and recovery. Fight the Base is now being considered Air Force-wide as the standard for training.

Working with the 375th Communication Group, the 375 SFS also piloted the new on-line process of obtaining base entry passes for visitors. Reducing wait time and better serving our customers, the new process has received attention both at the command and at higher headquarters.

The AMC commander's visit was a great success and enabled us to demonstrate why we are known as the Showcase Wing. To everyone who worked behind the scenes, kudos on a job well done!