This year, I had the privilege to participate in Joint Base Charleston’s (JBC) Honorary Commander program, designed to encourage an exchange of ideas and experiences between key members of the local civilian community and the Charleston military community.
Last week, our honorary commander class departed on our first Civic Leader Tour. We hopped on a C-17 flight out of Charleston and headed to Scott Air Force Base, IL, home to Air Mobility Command and Transportation Command Headquarters. We were joined by Col. Jason “JP” Parker, CMSgt. David Snarr, Mr. Ray Forcier, Col. Samuel “Lurch” Todd, CMSgt. Lucero “Lucy” Stockett, Capt. Nathanael Callon and Ms. Alexis Bradfield out of JBC.
After a delicious welcome dinner off base, we headed back to our hotel to prepare for an early morning breakfast with the Airmen at Scott. During breakfast, we had a chance to talk to the brave men and women more about why they chose the Air Force and their future goals. It is safe to say our country is in good hands.
We then proceeded to Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) for a briefing. It quickly became clear that Joint Base Charleston plays a critical role in providing global strategic mobility solutions. The 618th Air Operations Center for Air Mobility Command (AMC) doubled down on the strategic importance of JBC, the Air Force’s Premier Power Projection Platform. AMC provides four core mission sets: airlift, air refueling, global air mobility support and aeromedical evacuation. JBC is home to the 437th Air Lift Wing and the 628th Air Base Wing.
We finished up an action-packed day learning about Scott Air Force Base’s Elevate Innovation Lab, which aims to save costs by allowing airmen to utilize 3-D printers and other technology to address challenges. Before boarding the C-17 for Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, we had a chance to watch an aeromedical evacuation training, showcasing the capacity of a small plane to accommodate numerous patients if needed.
Next stop, San Antonio, Texas, for some good barbeque and rest before another busy day. We arrived at the 37th Training Wing the next morning for a mission brief and welcome. Lackland is where Basic Military Training (BMT) takes place for the Air Force. The base hosts BMT graduations 48 weeks each year. Remarkably, 31 years to the week since Col. Parker’s own BMT graduation, he returned as the keynote speaker. It was an honor to hear his address and witness the airmen take their oath in front of their families and friends.
After the ceremony, we toured the 321st Training Squadron, where trainees will be for seven and a half weeks. The mission of the squadron is to motivate, train and inspire the next generation of disciplined, motivated and warfighting-focused Airmen with the foundation to deliver combat airpower for America…anytime, anywhere.
Overall, the trip provided valuable insights into JBC’s role as the Air Force’s Premier Power Projection Platform and how the community can support our military.
If you are interested in learning more about the honorary commander program, please contact Alexis Bradfield.
