APRIL 26, 2023 – Air Mobility Command hosted Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and senior leaders from seven major commands at Phoenix Warfighter, MacDill Air Force Base, April 21. Total Force wing commanders, strategists and planners from across the Mobility Air Forces presented their planned scheme of maneuver for Mobility Guardian ’23, scheduled to execute in the Indo-Pacific theater this summer.
More than 250 attendees embraced air mobility’s role as the linchpin for the projection and sustainment of the U.S. military specifically focused on MAF readiness, integration and agility.
“We must get this right. Everyone’s success depends on us,” said AMC commander Gen. Mike Minihan. “This is a [wing] commander-centric discussion; they’re the ones tasked to win.”
Wing commanders from across the total force then presented their plans and preparation activities during the rehearsal of concept. For close to a year, MAF leadership at all echelons reviewed their tactics, techniques and procedures through an outside-the-box approach and an increased tolerance for risk in order to accelerate change to win.
Max-generation exercises, endurance missions, experimentation, Ready Airman Training programs, integration, interoperability, Warrior Heart culture and partnering with industry are just some of the things that are key to putting the MAF into its three-point stance.
“From where we were a year ago is beyond A+, but we’re not done,” Minihan said. “We need to continue to press with urgency and action. Aggressively seek situational awareness, aggressively seek integration and aggressively seek mission.”
Mobility Guardian ‘23, AMC’s premiere bi-annual mobility exercise, is fully integrated into U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s large-scale global exercise, supporting eight joint exercises and building interoperability with seven nations.
The largest iteration in history, it’ll include 67 mobility aircraft and 3,000 Airmen. The MAF will be tested in every mission set–airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support and command and control.
It is clear to me that the leadership is engaged and the Airmen are ready to execute, Allvin said. “This will take Ph.d-level leadership to really test ourselves.”
The best thing that will come out of this is the lessons learned, he continued.
“We must maintain custody of our readiness and get better every day,” Minihan added. “We will add depth, increase integration and continue to tackle the hard problems.”
Earlier in the week, AMC hosted its Spring Phoenix Rally. This year’s iteration focused on Warrior Heart, enabling Airmen to strengthen their minds, bodies and crafts in order to fortify the will to win.
By Lindsey Wilkinson
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs