JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
Total force Airmen welcomed 44 visitors attending the 2017 Joint Civilian Orientation Conference here, Aug. 11, showcasing the joint base’s Rapid Global Mobility integration with the Air Force and greater Department of Defense.
The only outreach program sponsored by the Secretary of Defense, the JCOC is the most prestigious public liaison program in the DOD. The conference is geared towards increasing public understanding of national defense by enabling community and business leaders an opportunity to see first-hand the missions of the U.S. military during a week-long tour of installations from across the DOD.
"It's an honor to share our Air Force story at the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center’s premiere joint base and illustrate our role in Rapid Global Mobility," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Bence, United States Air Force Expeditionary Center commander. "To do so with such a distinguished group of leaders from around the country is instrumental in building and maintaining the public trust and confidence in our service."
Joint Base MDL was the JCOC’s final installation stop on the multi-service tour, and served as the Air Force-centric portion of the conference.
Following the theme of “Airpower, from the Ground Up,” JCOC participants received an immersive, hands-on Air Force experience that spanned a range of mission sets, from the flightline to the frontline.
Members of the JCOC team began their day with a mission overview brief at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, followed by cargo loading training and Security Forces’ Phoenix Raven demonstrations hosted by the Expeditionary Operations School. From there, they visited the 621st Contingency Response Wing’s Global Response Deployment Center to see firsthand the Air Force's ability to rapidly deploy anywhere on the globe.
Participants then had lunch at the 87th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire Station 1 with junior Airmen and saw the first responders’ facility up-close. After lunch, the group learned about the flying missions of the 305th Air Mobility Wing, 514th Air Mobility Wing and 108th Wing. They toured C-17 and KC-10 aircraft simulators and had the opportunity “fly” a KC-10 refueling boom to top-up an aircraft of their choice. The group watched Airmen of the 305th Aerial Port Squadron demonstrate the preparation of cargo for flight before moving to the flight line to tour static displays of KC-10, C-17, and KC-135 aircraft, which included an Aeromedical Evacuation Team demonstration. Finally, the team visited the Armed Service’s Whole Blood Processing Center to learn about its critical, life-saving mission. The day’s events concluded with JCOC members exchanging experiences with total force Airmen over dinner.
“We can’t do what we do without the full support and understanding of our civilian communities, so this is a great opportunity to educate them on not only the Air Force, but the DOD as a whole,” said Col. Neil Richardson, 87th Air Base Wing and Joint Base MDL commander.
Airmen from across the Joint Base joined members throughout the tour to explain their role in the unique MDL mission, touching on not only rapid global mobility, but the key role that Total Force Integration plays in the overall DOD.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of Airmen to be here, and I’m proud to watch them share their stories,” said Richardson. “It’s important for us to share our message, and hope [the JCOC members] leave as Air Force ambassadors.”
Overall, the JCOC set out to bridge the gap between service members and their civilian counterparts, offering insight to the everyday lives and missions across the DOD. As the tour concludes, members are leaving with a new sense of perspective on the military.
“This tour has exposed me to details of the armed services I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise,” said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. “Sometimes we forget what makes this country great, which is our freedoms, and [the service members] provide that for us every day.”