ANAHEIM, Calif. (USTCNS) --- Comparing the Total Force to a championship sports team, Gen. Charles T. Robertson praised its members during his keynote address given to more than 2,400 attendees at the annual Airlift Tanker Association convention held here earlier this month.

"I believe Air Mobility Command's Total Force team is just like your favorite championship sports team," said Robertson, the commander in chief of the United States Transportation Command and the commander of Air Mobility Command. "We are reservists and guardsmen; we are active duty military and civilians; and we are contractors, industry partners, and members of America's Civil Reserve Air Fleet.

"We are all different and we all play different positions. But, we've got a roster full of superstars who also know how to work together like a finely tuned machine to support the warfighting commander in chiefs with truly rapid global mobility - a unique capability unmatched anywhere on the globe!"

During his presentation, Robertson outlined a number of accomplishments of the Total Force team.

Accomplishments were noted across the command:

· The success of Rodeo 2000 hosted by the 43rd Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
· Flawless weapon, ground and flight safety records, which earned AMC the Foulois Trophy for the best safety record in the Air Force
· Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Capt. Cliff Janney and his crew for the valor they showed over the skies of Kosovo in the rescue and recovery of a downed F-117 pilot
· Numerous improvement projects initiated and completed by both successive Year of the Family committees.


He also emphasized his praise for the outstanding and remarkable work done in airlifting baby Alexis Kronshagen, daughter of Staff Sgt. Christopher Kronshagen, 18th Transportation Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan.

The baby, who was born with a life threatening condition, needed the immediate care provided by a heart-lung bypass machine, which is available only at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

A KC-10 not only carried this life saving equipment from Texas to Yokota where Alexis was awaiting its arrival, but it also helped to refuel the C-17 used to bring the baby back to Texas and transported another urgent care patient en route to San Diego, Calif.

The C-17 used to fly baby Alexis was just moments before used to repatriate remains of 14 U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War.

Supported by dozens of airlifters, medical specialists, three aircraft, and the medical team from the home of the one-of-a-kind life support machine, Robertson said that this mission in many respects is illustrative of the way members of this Total Force team takes care of its own.

Besides highlighting the Total Force's many achievements from humanitarian to peacekeeping missions, Robertson also spoke in depth about AMC's ultimate goal - staying on top as the 'leader of the pack'.

"As the nature of national defense strategy becomes more and more firmly entrenched in an expeditionary, power projection mindset, it's about time we start to see things as they really are," said Robertson. "The days of this command being considered exclusively a supporting force are over. On a daily basis you are putting yourselves in harm's way, operating in all types of environments in support of our country's goals around the world."

Robertson then spoke in depth about measures that need to be taken to ensure that AMC stays on top.

Measures included:

· Streamlining the Expeditionary Air Force rotating process
· Training more people through the Phoenix Readiness program
· Maintaining and modernizing equipment including Pacer CRAG upgrades to the KC-135 fleet
· Incorporating extended range fuel tanks on the C-17; upgrading components of the C-5
· Acquiring the Next Generation Small Loader
· Keeping and recruiting talented 'players' by focusing on this year's theme of retention and recruiting
· Remembering AMC's vision, particularly through career broadening programs, such as Phoenix Horizon, and the implementation of Mobility 2000.

Robertson quoted Dick Vermeil, head coach of Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, to close his address.

"I am humbled in the presence of the outstanding people that made this happen. I'm a very ordinary guy surrounded by extraordinary people," he said.

"What we provide - rapid global air mobility - is far too important to this nation's strength and prosperity to let anyone but the first team do the job. So the next time you hear someone talking about America's team, forget about those Cowboys and those Braves. Think Air Mobility Command!" (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).