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CRWs join forces to span coasts, globe

Published May 7, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokeres
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J -- The Air Force's two Contingency Response Wings will join forces in a ceremony May 29 at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

As part of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's restructuring plan announced by Air Mobility Command Nov. 2, 2011, the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis AFB, will be inactivated and its subordinate groups will align under the command of the 621st CRW, based here.

As a result of this action, the 621st CRW will double in size, becoming the sole contingency response wing in the Air Force, spanning not just both coasts, but the globe.

Specifically, these changes reduce duplication of efforts and properly position the 621CRW commander to take the role as the lead agency for conducting global mobility operations providing support to combatant commanders and warfighters.

This action will not affect the structure or size of the California-based units. Airmen and air mobility assets already assigned to the 615th will remain in place and will continue worldwide operations. The intention is for this transition to be largely transparent to the Airmen of the 615th, explains Colonel Chris Patterson, 621st CRW commander.

"This inactivation will not change the mission nor the immense day-to-day responsibilities of the nearly 650 highly motivated Airmen who are about to call themselves "Devil Raiders," said Patterson. "I view this as an opportunity to join forces with a professional team of proud contingency responders. Together we will forge a stronger, more agile and better prepared team who can quickly respond to a world that demands our unique skills and capabilities."

Even with the increased reach and doubled size of the 621st, the urgent business of deploying professional air mobility capability has not changed a bit, explains Patterson.

"Regardless of where we work or whom we work for, our mission as AMC's 9-1-1 emergency response force remains the same," continues. "Our disciplined Airmen will continue to mobilize the fight, provide relief and advance the peace."

The inactivation ceremony will be held at the Travis AFB Global Reach Deployment Center (Bldg 924) at 9:30 a.m. For more information please contact the 621st CRW Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-0668 or the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs Office at (609) 754-7059.