MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR FORUMMOBILITY COMMAND | SPRING 2019 Survivors of Operation Babylift Reflect on Horror and Healing from the 1975 C-5A Crash in South Vietnam 2018 SAFETY AWARD WINNERS | Page 19 THE Volume 28, No. 1 MOBILITY Spring 2019 CONTENTS FORUM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND Gen Maryanne Miller DIRECTOR OF SAFETY Col Brandon R. Hileman [email protected] EDITORS Kim Knight 6 16 19 32 [email protected] Sherrie Schatz FROM THE TOP AMC HERITAGE REGULAR FEATURES Sheree Lewis 3 18th AF Commander 16 Survivors of Operation 38 Mishap-Free Flying [email protected] Maj Gen Barrett Babylift Reflect on Hour Milestones GRAPHIC DESIGN Talks Readiness and Horror and Healing 39 Quickstoppers Elizabeth Bailey Squadron Vitality from the 1975 C-5A A Day in the Life Crash in South Vietnam 40 The Mobility Forum (TMF) is published 5 Air Mobility Command four times a year by the Director of Welcomes New AMC NEWS ON THE COVER Safety, Air Mobility Command, Scott Command Chief AFB, IL. The contents are informative and Rescue and recovery workers not regulatory or directive. Viewpoints Master Sergeant 19 AMC’s Annual 2018 search the wreckage of a C-5A expressed are those of the authors and Safety Award Winners Galaxy transport plane carrying do not necessarily reflect the policy AMC AIRCRAFT Vietnamese orphans that crashed 20 Safety Office of the Year: shortly after takeoff from Saigon’s of AMC, USAF, or any DoD agency. 6 McConnell Air Force 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Tan Son Nhut Airport during the initial flight of Operation Babylift, Contributions: Please email articles and Base, Kansas Air Force Base, DE April 4, 1975. About 50 adults and photos to [email protected], 78 children died in the crash. fax to (580) 628-2011, or mail to Welcomes First 22 AMC’s Annual 2018 AP photo by Sal Veder Schatz Publishing, 11950 W. Highland KC-46A Pegasus Individual Safety Ave., Blackwell, OK 74631. For Bottom far left: Many of the questions call (580) 628-4607. TMF BASH PROGRAM Award Winners employees deployed to the Defense Attaché Office Saigon editors reserve the right to make 8 MacDill AFB, Florida 32 “We keep ‘em movin’, helped escort evacuating editorial changes to manuscripts. Vietnamese orphans from Saigon we keep ‘em livin’” DE denotes digitally enhanced photo. BASH Reports Findings during the collapse of South Vietnam in April 1975. on Vulture Tagging SAFETY CULTURE Subscriptions: U.S. Government Project; Studying Photo: www.dia.mil Publishing Office: 2019-645-110/10015. Vultures to Keep MacDill 34 Lightning Can Strike Bottom middle left: Some of the For sale by the Superintendent of in a Flash! older children sitting on the catwalk Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Aircraft Safe with their adult escorts strapped to Office. Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov. 36 10 Tips for Navigating the cargo floor. Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area FLIGHT SAFETY Ladders Successfully Bottom middle right: Actual photo (202) 512-1800. Fax: (202) 512-2104. of C-5A 80218 taking off from Tan Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 10 Mentorship in Son Nhut, RVN, on April 4, 1975 20402-0001. 37 Quick Tips to Jump- approximately 30 minutes prior to Aviation: Enhancing start Your Backup the crash. AMC RP 91-2. Dist: X Squadron Culture Communication Plan Bottom far right: Sister Ursula Lee ISSN 1559-159X through Real Stories holding Aryn Lockhart as a baby. DISASTER RELIEF Photos courtesy of Ray Snedegar RISK MANAGEMENT Visit www.themobilityforum.net 30 Super Typhoon Yutu: for current and past editions of 12 What Does Big The Worst Tropical The Mobility Forum. THE MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR MOBILITY COMMAND Data Say? FORUM Cyclone to Hit the Send comments or feedback to THE MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR MOBILITY COMMAND United States Since 1935 FORUM [email protected]. THE MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR MOBILITY COMMAND FORUM THE MOBILITYTHE MAGAZINE OF AIR MOBILITY COMMAND FORUM Stay up-to-date on happenings around AMC via these outlets: www.facebook.com/theofficialairmobilitycommand www.twitter.com/airmobilitycmd www.youtube.com/MobilityAirman 2 The Mobility Forum FROM THE TOP 18th AF Commander Maj Gen Barrett Talks Readiness and Squadron Vitality BY MAJ RYAN DECAMP, 18TH AIR FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS hen Maj Gen Sam Barrett in the process, which creates a cohesive Photo above: Airmen assigned to 43 AMS, took the reins of 18th Air team that meets challenges head Pope Army Air Field, NC, and Airmen assigned to 14th, 15th, and 16th Airlift Squadrons, Joint Force last summer, he on. That atmosphere subsequently Base Charleston, SC, load DAGOR Ultra-light outlined full-spectrum supports military families and Combat Vehicles onto C-17 Globemaster IIIs at W Pope Army Air Field, NC. readiness and squadron vitality as two improves retention. focus areas for the command. USAF photo by A1C Gracie I. Lee “We are adding Airmen to help “Full-spectrum readiness highlights meet mission needs and support our the need to be ready for anything,” squadrons,” he continued. “We have The two priorities—full-spectrum Barrett said. “Our Air Force has been roughly 321,000 active-duty Airmen readiness and squadron vitality—help engaged in steady-state operations today and expect to grow to 350,000 by create healthy squadrons and are since the early 1990s. However, the middle of the next decade.” equally important, according to Barrett. defending America in the future may involve threats such as advanced air The ‘Air Force We Need’ plan, as “We provide Rapid Global Mobility defenses, cyber warfare, or chemical, outlined by Secretary of the Air Force (RGM) around the world, and we can biological, radiological, or nuclear Heather Wilson last fall, called for best do that when our readiness levels effects, so we need to prepare for a increasing operational squadrons are high,” he said. “The healthier wide range of possibilities. We are by more than 20 percent and adding squadrons are, the higher readiness refining our tactics based on what another airlift squadron and 14 tanker levels will be. Plus, healthy squadrons we’ve seen in the Middle East and on squadrons by 2030. help support families when loved what near-peer adversaries may bring ones are called away from home. This to the table.” The goal is to build well-manned and provides peace of mind for Airmen, healthy squadrons to bring out the allowing them to focus on the mission He said squadron vitality allows best in each Airman, helping each and give our collective team the best Airmen to focus on the mission, find innovative ways to accomplish opportunity for success. The demand support their teammates, and have fun the mission. for global mobility takes us to every Spring 2019 3 FROM THE TOP continent on earth. We need healthy, For every Airman “The RGM team launches an aircraft prepared squadrons, but we don’t every 2.8 minutes. Airmen make want to overwork our teams.” and aircraft to operate that possible, and we need them at safely, we must take their best physically and mentally. Senior leaders are addressing concerns We work in dynamic, changing about how overworked teams affect care of our people and environments. Healthy personnel and families—again, in line with the ‘Air resources. When we vibrant squadrons help divide the Force We Need’ plan to increase the mission demand equally and create number of operational squadrons and focus on safety, readiness balance that reduces the chance for the number of Airmen. improves—helping us safety issues in demanding situations. For every Airman and aircraft to “We must overcome those challenges respond to any threat.” operate safely, we must take care of and remain ready now and in the our people and resources. When we future. Here at 18th AF, we have begun McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, focus on safety, readiness improves— to see the effects of how senior leaders received the service’s first Pegasus helping us respond to any threat.” addressed manpower concerns. The January 25. Air Force added about 10,000 active- In closing, Barrett shared his duty Airmen the last three years, and “In 2018, the Mobility team refueled confidence for the future. the recent budget should fund another over 103,000 aircraft,” he continued. 4,700 Airmen, many of whom will “To put that in perspective, that “The United States is a superpower support the RGM mission. is enough to have provided fuel because we can touch any corner of to every serviceable aircraft on the globe,” he said. “RGM makes that “This budget invests in key areas— the planet nearly four times. The possible, whether we are responding Airmen, readiness, nuclear deterrence, KC-46 will help us continue fueling to crises or moving patients, cargo, or and air superiority, among others. It joint and international partners. fuel. We do not know where or when funds additional KC-46 aircraft and The steps we’re taking will ensure the next conflict will occur, but we will more research into technologies that we remain the greatest Air Force be ready. Vibrant, healthy squadrons help our operational mission down on earth while helping Airmen support readiness and our families, the road.” gain balance in their lives.” who, in turn, support our ability to be ready and complete the mission. Barrett looks forward to continue Additionally, Barrett encouraged every That teamwork gives us the best bringing KC-46s into the fold, as Airman to make safety a priority. opportunity for success.” Maj Gen Sam C. Barrett A C-17 Globemaster III receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender over the Pacific Ocean during Talisman Saber 17. The C-17 aircraft flew from Alaska to Australia in a single continuous, 17-hour flight.