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GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (USTCNS) --- Air Mobility Command has seen many changes since the Expeditionary Aerospace Force concept started in 1999. This command has also been heavily involved in its own programs from Year of the Family I and II in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 to the Year of Retention and Recruiting in fiscal year 2001.

Gen. Charles T. Robertson, commander in chief of U.S. Transportation Command, and commander of AMC, discussed these changes and initiatives during a recent visit to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D.

Robertson said part of AMC's involvement in the EAF concept includes the use of its three super tanker wings from Grand Forks AFB, McConnell AFB, Kan., and Fairchild AFB, Wash., as lead mobility wings.

These wings are responsible for deploying a 33-person leadership team to various parts of the world, if called upon, to help set up Air Force operations for a humanitarian or major disaster relief mission.

"We created the lead mobility wing concept at the time of the evolution of the Air Force entry into the EAF," Robertson said. "It was simultaneous with the time we were doing one major disaster relief operation after another. The lead mobility wing seemed to be a perfect way to work the humanitarian disaster relief side of the Air Force mission."

Putting the right people on the task was important.

"We looked around at the people who probably were most capable of supporting the mission and developing the contingency operations plans," said Robertson. "We turned to the super tanker units to be the core units."

According to Robertson, the making of the super tanker wing with its 48 assigned air refueling aircraft has been a crucial asset to the AMC flying mission. Grand Forks, for example, used to be a bomber aircraft and missile base that converted to the super tanker wing design in the mid-1990s.

"From the time that I grew up during the Cold War, the role of the tanker has changed quite a bit," Robertson said. "The super tanker wing is the evolution of what the Air Force has become with the EAF concept."

All people assigned to LMWs have had to and are currently attending Phoenix Readiness training courses at the Air Mobility Warfare Center at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

Robertson said the center plays a vital role supporting LMWs, but he thinks the larger role rests on the shoulders of the wing's personnel.

"In their innovative ways of improving processes in our operations, the Air Mobility Warfare Center with their Phoenix Readiness training and the Air Mobility Battlelab are all key players," Robertson said. "But it's the brains, the creativity, the energy and it's the enthusiasm of the people who make up the lead mobility wing who are really the creators of its concept."

Speaking about the importance of having a quality team, Robertson turned his attention to AMC's Year of Retention and Recruiting.

"Military and civilian leadership in the Air Force and Department of Defense continue to look for tangible ways to convince our men and women that the future of their force - the Army, Navy and Marines included - is better than the alternative," Robertson said.

"With pay increases, bonuses and improvements in quality of life and the retirement system, we thought in AMC that it would be very appropriate to follow that up with an awareness campaign," said Robertson.

Robertson said people who are making a choice between military and civilian life should make that choice with full understanding of the facts.

"They should know that their service is valued. They need to know that if they intend to move on to a civilian lifestyle, their decision will not be held against them," Robertson said.

An Air Force career has a number of positive aspects.

"We want to let people know that an Air Force career offers many good things, such as camaraderie and culture," said Robertson. "It's a place where you can work with a high quality set of people who have been handpicked from the American population."

Because making the military a career can be a very tough decision for a young officer or airman.

"I think people need to think about their own motivations and future aspirations," said Robertson. "If they have a family, they need to know what their family can expect whatever their decision's going to be. They need to know the less tangible and concrete things the Air Force brings to the table in terms of benefits."

Robertson said people should consider the total package the military offers.

"They should make sure they're not just following money," Robertson said. "They should consider all of the answers. I might suggest they talk to someone who got out and came back in, then make their decision." (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS).