1) ATQ Summer 2004
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CONTENTS… Association News Chairman’s Comments......................................................................... 2 President’s Message ............................................................................... 3 AIRLIFT TANKER QUARTERLY Volume 12 • Number 3 • Summer 2004 Secretary’s Notes ................................................................................... 3 Airlift/Tanker Quarterly is published four times a year by the Airlift/Tanker Association, Col. Barry F. Creighton, USAF (Ret.), Secretary, Association Round-Up .......................................................................... 4 1708 Cavelletti Court, Virginia Beach, VA 23454. (757) 838-3037. Postage paid at Belleville, Illinois. Subscription rate: $30.00 per year. Change of address requires four weeks notice. Cover Story The Airlift/Tanker Association is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to providing a forum for people interested in improving the AMC: 12 Years of Excellence ......................................................... 6-17 capability of U.S. air mobility forces. Membership in the Airlift/Tanker Association is $30 annually A New Era in American Air Power Began on 1 June 1992 or $85 for three years. Full-time student membership is $10 per year. Life membership is $400. Corporate membership includes five individual memberships and is $1200 per year. Membership dues include a subscription to Departments Airlift/Tanker Quarterly, and are subject to change. Airlift/Tanker Quarterly is published for the use of the officers, advisors and members of the Corporate Close-Up ............................................................................ 18 Airlift/Tanker Association. The appearance of articles or advertisements, including inserts, in Airlift/Tanker Quarterly Corporate Member Spotlight: Support Systems Associates, Inc......... 19 does not constitute an endorsement by the Airlift/Tanker Association, the Air Mobility Command, the Department of the Air Force or AMC Operational Test & Evaluation .................................................. 27 the Department of Defense, of the viewpoints, products or services mentioned or advertised. ©2004. Articles appearing in this publication may not be reprinted, in any form, without prior written approval from the Airlift/Tanker Association. Features Airlift/Tanker Quarterly is mailed on or about the 30th day of January, April, July and October of each year. The copy deadline for stories, White Paper articles, letters, etc., is as follows: Winter Edition – December 30th; Spring Edition – March 30th; Tanker Airlift Control Elements (TALCEs): Summer Edition – June 30th; Fall Convention Edition – August 30th. The Ultimate in Agile Combat Support.......................................... 20-23 Airlift/Tanker Quarterly accepts advertising only for the Fall Convention Edition. by LtCol Phil Bossert, USAF, Air War College EDITORIAL STAFF: 2004 Convention & Symposium Rules of Engagement ................ 25-26 Gen. Ron Fogleman, USAF, Retired Chairman, Board of Officers Mr. Collin R. Bakse 2004 Convention & Symposium Registration Form ........................28 Editor and Art Director Lt. Col. Nicky McCollough, USAF, Retired Business Manager Col. Ronald E. Owens, USAF Retired Editorial Advisor Col. Gregory Cook, USAF Public Affairs Coordinator Ms. Dawn L. Bakse ON THE COVER: “A Flare for Excellence” – Computer generated “painting” of AMC Airlift Editorial and Advertising Coordinator and Tanker assests celebrating AMC’s 12th Anniversary. By A/TQ editor and art director, Collin Bakse. PRINTED IN U.S.A. A/TQ •Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Summer 2004 1 A/TA Corporate Members Chairman’s In Harm’s Way A lot of major media outlets beat the “corporate greed” drum, day in and day COMMENTS out, putting a negative spin on every aspect of the “military-industrial complex,” but seldom report the great things that America’s As we go to press with this edition of the magazine we see all “defense contractors” do to help keep us safe around us reminders that this great Nation of ours and the men and and secure. They seem to have forgotten that women who serve in its military forces remain the key to freedom these are American companies employing and liberty around the world. As we celebrate the birth of the United th Americans, and that it’s the innovative States of America on the 4 of July we are reminded that freedom thinking, the research and development is not free. Operations in Iraq have entered a new phase with the efforts, and the skilled workforces of these turn over of sovereignty to the Iraqi people. Coming on the heels stalwart companies that have helped to build of an attack on our homeland in September 2001 and the liberation the mightiest force on earth…and that they of Afghanistan from the grip of international terrorists and the have not accomplished this awesome feat Taliban that sheltered them, any objective thinking individual must from the safety of some “ivory tower.” conclude this is a monumental feat. Gen Ron Fogleman Less than 18 months ago Iraq was a country ruled by an unscrupulous The Corporate Members of the Airlift/ USAF, Ret Tanker Association’s are a case in point. tyrant with record of disregard of basic civil and international human Many of these companies must send rights. His unwillingness to conform to internationally accepted employees into harm’s way, to work side- norms of behavior and resolutions approved by the United Nations, when combined with his by-side with military personnel in the field. track record of aggression, genocide and use of weapons of mass destruction over several decades, And, unfortunately, some of these brave led to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In a magnificent feat of arms an International Coalition of men and women pay the ultimate price. In Forces led by the United States defeated his fielded the last few years employees from several The political and diplomatic successes of our Corporate Members, including GE, forces and deposed the tyrant in three weeks Northrup Grumman, BAE and DynCorp, th have lost their lives. And just last month, an time. This was the of the last half of the 20 Century employee of Lockheed Martin, New Jersey “mission accomplished” native Paul M. Johnson, Jr., was savagely that President Bush primarily resulted from the decapitated by murderous kidnappers in helped celebrate aboard a Saudi Arabia. redeploying aircraft carrier actions of our Soldiers, Sailors, Many of our Corporate Members also lost in the Pacific Ocean in the employees on 9/11. Among those lost due spring of 2003. Marines and Airmen engaged on behalf to the cowardly attack on the World Trade After this phase of Center and the Pentagon were men and Iraqi operations the of the United States. women from Boeing, Booz Allen, Raytheon Coalition found itself in and SAIC. a difficult and challenging This pattern continues as we move into Despite these losses, and the escalating environment. Under attack from die-hards threat of terrorism world-wide, our Corporate the first decade of the 21st Century. Member companies continue to provide the of the former regime, services and know-how needed to keep our criminal elements freed country secure by maintaining a presence in from prisons on the eve some of the most dangerous regions on the of the war, and international terrorists, the Coalition, with the United States carrying a large globe. Jeff Adams, a spokesman for Lockheed part of the load, worked to rebuild the infrastructure and institutions required by a sovereign Martin, drove this point home recently state. While much remains to be done, the progress made during the past 14 months allowed saying, “…even with all the dangers in the the turnover of sovereignty to occur ahead of schedule. Now, as the skeptics maintain their world, there are still courageous men and drumbeat of negativism, we shall see what kind of nation comes out of this effort. I, for one, women who volunteer for this work and am confident that this effort will bear great fruit for the region and the world when judged by who – despite the fact that they can come history and not hysterics. The sacrifices made by our troops and our allies will not have been home whenever they want – choose to made in vain. continue their missions.” Our track record in post-WW II Germany and Japan, the investment of American and The Airlift/Tanker Association owes much allied blood in Korea in the early 1950s, our support of Taiwan, our willingness to confront of its success to the support of its Corporate Communism in South East Asia in the 1960s and 70s, our commitment to challenge and defeat Members and their employees – America an “Evil Empire” in the 1980s, turn back aggression during the Gulf War in 1991, intercede to (including those major media outlets) owes stop genocide and ethnic persecution in the Balkans throughout the 1990s was one of selfless them much more. America owes them its engagement on behalf of destitute and oppressed peoples. Today, these are seen as positive appreciation for providing it the means influences on the course of history in the pursuit of international peace and prosperity. th necessary to accomplish a difficult task in The political and diplomatic successes of the last half of the 20 Century primarily resulted trying times – ensuring safety and freedom. from the actions of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen engaged on behalf of the United st America owes them a resounding “thank States. This pattern continues as we move into the first decade of the 21 Century. At the heart you” for being willing to go into harm’s way of this engagement are the members of this Association. Our mobility forces are the enablers on its behalf. America owes them respect. for all military operations around the globe. Be proud of who you are and what you and those who have gone before you have done and continue to do today. God bless America and the Collin R. Bakse, editor men and women who serve her. 2 A/TQ •Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Summer 2004 A/TQ •Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Summer 2004 3 President’s SECRETARY’S NOTES Last year in this column, I informed MESSAGE you that our Airlift/ Tanker Association had eagerly accepted Greetings air mobility warriors.