AMC commander visits McChord

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
McCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash --  Gen. Raymond E. Johns, Jr., Air Mobility Command commander, visited McChord this week on his first official visit as the new AMC commander. During the visit, General Johns inspired Airmen during a commanders call, flew an airdrop training mission with the 7th and 8th Airlift Squadrons, toured multiple McChord units, and received a briefing from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord command team.

General Johns was previously assigned to McChord as the 62nd Airlift Wing commander, from 1998 to 2000. This visit marks the last time General Johns will visit the installation under its current name; JBLM initial operating capability starts Feb. 1.

General Johns visited multiple units within the 62nd AW, toured the Washington Air National Guard Western Air Defense Sector operations center and the Air Force Reserve's 446th Airlift Wing headquarters. He also visited the fitness center, Airman and Family Readiness Center, the Escape Zone and the construction site of McChord's privatized on-base housing area.

On Tuesday, General Johns addressed Airmen during a commander's call at the base theater, speaking about the Air Force mission and Air Mobility Command's role, with significant reflection on the role of the C-17 and McChord Airmen.

"You are the very best at what you do and it's so important to our Air Force," he said. "Each day you make a difference and it is marvelous to see the changes and improvements here on McChord and to see how well you take care of each other and your families."

AMC's primary mission out of the three Air Force missions areas of global vigilance, global reach and global power, is global reach. McChord's C-17 Globemaster III aircraft provide critical airlift and airdrop with speed and accuracy, able to reach anyone and any place in the world within 18 hours. McChord Airmen are simultaneously engaged in supporting operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Antarctica, and now in Haiti, in the aftermath of the devastating 7.0 earthquake.

"You maintain and employ a machine that keeps Soldiers and Marines on the ground in the villages of Afghanistan safe," General Johns said. "The speed and accuracy of our precision airdrop mission gets food, water and ammunition to them without putting them in harm's way."

McChord Airmen also play a vital role in the aeromedical evacuation mission, driving survival rates of the sick and injured on the battlefield up to 96 percent.

"It is remarkable to see our Airmen saving lives through this very important aeromedical evacuation mission," he said. "The C-17 has never been busier."

The general also remarked on the ten years of support McChord has provided in Antarctica, through Operation Deep Freeze.

"Developed in painstaking detail by McChord Airmen, the C-17 now has the ability to land on ice in the dark through the use of night vision goggles," said General Johns. "There is no place in the world we can't go."

You do these missions, and you are the best at it, he added.

During his commander's call, General Johns announced that AMC has provided McChord $675,000 to upgrade the Fitness Center annex with an indoor running track, larger locker rooms and electric system upgrades. The construction is projected to be completed near Labor Day.

General Johns then recognized retiring long-time Federal employee, Mr. William "Pappa J" Johnson, 62nd Force Support Squadron athletic director. The Fitness Center upgrade was the last in a long series of Johnson's efforts to improve McChord health and wellness programs and facilities.

General Johns also recognized Ms, Cheryl Vollmer, 62nd Force Support Squadron, director of the Airman and Family Readiness Center, who retires this week after 22 years at McChord and 32 years total Federal service. Ms. Vollmer is responsible for growing the Airman and Family Readiness Center from two employees in 1988 to 11 in 2010, initializing the Escape Zone, a family resiliency center for parents and children and building a job placement program for spouses of military members and veterans.

General Johns departed McChord Tuesday, continuing his official travels to include visits to the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Island, Calif., and to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, Calif.