1 million sorties: AMC reaches mobility milestone with Dover’s help

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Air Mobility Command passed a major milestone Nov. 19, when an AMC aircraft flew the command's one millionth sortie since Sept. 11, 2001.

Gen. Arthur Lichte, AMC commander, spoke of the historic flight, which was a C-17 mission flown to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan. The crew was from the 62nd Airlift Wing's 10th Airlift Squadron, McChord AFB, Wash.

"AMC is firmly in the fight," he said. "Whether it's flying airlift, tanker or aeromedical missions in and out of combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, humanitarian relief missions to hurricane and earthquake ravaged areas, or supporting UN peacekeeping missions as it did recently in Darfur, AMC is there.

"This milestone is a tribute to the men and women who fly, maintain, support and control these aircraft," said General Lichte. "The excellence they demonstrate every day will no doubt continue for the next million missions, wherever they may be."

A sortie is defined as a single takeoff and landing. The milestone includes all operational missions, training missions and commercial contract missions flown by the command.

Records show Team Dover has played an important role in the mobility mission overall, and this historic milestone as well.

In the more than six years since 9/11, Team Dover Airmen have been busy flying sorties, moving cargo and passengers and supporting the Coalition downrange.

"For Team Dover, one of the command's busiest bases in terms of airlifting cargo to the warfighter, the AMC milestone is one more validation of what I already know to be true," said Lt. Col. Darren James, 9th Airlift Squadron commander, whose squadron flies the C-5 Galaxy missions for the 436th Airlift Wing. "The 9th Airlift Squadron Airmen's commitment to the AMC mission and the Global War on Terrorism never wavers."

The same can be said of the 3d Airlift Squadron, the Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons, the Aerial Port Squadron, and every other Airman representing Team Dover, added Colonel James. Regardless of which unit they are assigned to or the number of stripes they wear on their arms, the Airmen here consistently operate at maximum capacity, and have done so throughout the days since Sept. 11, 2001, he said.

"We train to fight and we fight to win!" said Lt. Col. Keith Thibodeaux, 3rd Airlift Squadron commander, whose squadron flies the C-17 Globemaster III missions for the 436th Airlift Wing. "Since we (the C-17) have only been here a short while, our contribution is small compared to that of our behemoth brother. None the less, we do what we can anytime, anywhere."

With the command hitting a million-sortie milestone since 9/11 and Dover contributing more than 50,000 of the sorties plus having moved nearly 300,000 passengers and more than 620,000 tons of cargo during that time, there is no doubt the Airmen are busy but determined to keep the pace.

"We will sustain the pace for as long as it takes," said Colonel Thibodeaux.

Colonel James agrees.

"The answer to the question is summed up in our core value of service before self," he said. "Just like Colonel Thibodeaux's Airmen and surely the rest of the Airmen on Team Dover, my warriors will continue the fight until mission completion - there is no room for failure when Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines downrange rely on the cargo we deliver."

Other mobility facts:

· About every 90 seconds a mobility aircraft lifts off somewhere in the world.
· Since Sept. 11, 2001, AMC tankers have transferred nearly 1.2 billion gallons of fuel to U.S. and allied aircraft.
· AMC airlift is keeping about 12,000 people and almost 5,000 trucks off Iraqi roads each month, helping to defeat the enemy's IED strategy.
· AMC aircraft are responsible for transporting the nation's senior leaders, including the president.
· AMC is rushing about 12 mine resistant ambush protected vehicles to Iraq and Afghanistan every day. The command has delivered more than 1,000 MRAPs.
· AMC aeromedical crews provide timely airlift and medical care to their fellow warriors, rapidly moving injured servicemembers from the battlefield to the U.S.

(AMC Public Affairs contributed to this article)