Vance shows T-1 force at Scott AFB, IL.

  • Published
  • By Capt. Lynn McCabe
  • 32nd Flying Training Squadron assistant director of operations
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Air Force aircraft assaulting an airfield is not all that unusual. But when the airplanes are T-1 trainers descending on Air Mobility Command Headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., a few eyebrows may rise.

Twenty T-1A Jayhawk aircraft assigned to the 32d Flying Training Squadron at Vance AFB did just that May 8. The aircraft and crews, mostly junior first assignment instructor pilots visited Scott to see the Tanker Airlift Control Center and get a brief by Maj. Gen. Ron Ladnier, TACC commander.

General Ladnier provided the visitors an introduction to what they will experience as AMC aircrew. "It is important that these young pilots understand the system that they will operate in" the general said.

Following the briefing, the 32nd aircrews got to visit "the floor" and talk to controllers working contingency operations, channel missions and aeromedical evacuation.

"We want to keep our instructor force focused on what the Mobility Air Forces are bringing to the fight in the War on Terrorism," Lt. Col. Dave Morrissey, 32nd director of operations said. "They need to understand the relationship between global mobility doctrine and mission execution. If they can understand it, they can pass that knowledge on to our students who will be in the fight in less than 12 months." Colonel Morrissey assumes command of the unit next month.

After the tour at Scott, the 32nd crews took to the skies over St. Louis to practice simulated air refueling and air drop operations. By all accounts the "show of force" was successful.

"I had no idea of the span of control of the TACC, and the volume of mobility forces that they control," 2nd Lt. Mike List, 32nd FAIP said. "All over the world, every 90 seconds an airplane takes off under the control of the TACC...that's impressive! I am looking forward to getting into the fight. The visit provided me a much deeper appreciation of what our mobility forces are doing in every theater."