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Internship program provides officers exposure to unique mission, opportunities

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing public affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The Air Mobility Command Internship program, called Phoenix Mobility, provides officers the opportunity to broaden their careers, receive senior leadership mentoring, and be introduced to the Contingency Response mission and operational level of war.

Phoenix Mobility, the command's sole internship program for company grade officers, is a three-year program, established in 2004 in conjunction with the Air Force's two specialized Contingency Response Wings.

"From interactions with the AMC commander to monthly meetings with local colonels, we gain insight to career progression, Air Force expectations and the senior leader perspective," explained Maj. Joseph Wenckus, 571st Global Mobility Readiness Squadron director of operations and the 615th Contingency Response Wing's senior ranking Phoenix Mobility program member.

Not to be confused as Intermediate Developmental Education, Phoenix Mobility is designed to provide officers an opportunity to establish a foundation of competencies associated with expeditionary mobility operations. Participants acquire exposure of the Air and Space Operations Centers, contingency response and en route mobility operations, as well as officer professional development.

The first internship class began in mid-2005 with six rated officers -- pilots and navigators -- three at both the 615th CRW here and at the 621st CRW at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

By 2007, that number expanded to four times its original size and included both rated and non-rated officers. This summer, the number of Phoenix Mobility officers will increase to 18 at each CRW.

"The PM program is critically important for numerous reasons," explained Col. Joseph Zahn, 615th CRW vice commander and the wing's Phoenix Mobility program manager. "The Air Force's mobility mission is a very diverse and complex mix of specialized flying and mission support skill sets.

"It is important that we have Mobility Air Force Airmen who understand and can articulate these talents both within the Air Force, as well as to our joint and coalition partners."

With the expansion of the program, any company grade officer assigned to AMC is eligible to apply.

We've had maintenance and logistics readiness officers, as well as flight nurses, explained Major Wenckus. This summer we will also have an airfield manager as part of the program.

While all AMC officers are eligible to apply, the program is highly selective. To compete at the major command level, all interested officers need to be vetted and nominated by their wing commanders.

"The program selects only the most qualified Airmen who have risen to the top of a very competitive group," Colonel Zahn added. "These are our mobility leaders of the future."

Once selected, participants gain exposure to unique mission and global opportunities.
"I believe it is vital our Airmen avoid getting 'stove-piped' in their career fields," the colonel continued. "Well-rounded officers with depth and breadth in functions outside their initial comfort zone have proven to be great senior leaders."

Not only do the Airmen selected for this program benefit, but so do the CRWs they're assigned to.

"The men and women selected for this program have proven to be outstanding Airmen," said Colonel Zahn. "They bring incredible experiences and ideas to the organization, as well as a willingness to look at new and inventive ways to achieve our mission."

Since the program has only been in existence since 2005, the full impact on participants' future Air Force careers is yet to be seen. However, some connection might be made with the fact that every graduating Phoenix Mobility member from the 615th CRW has been selected to either attend IDE in residence or for Phoenix Reach, AMC's Major Weapons System crossflow program.

"I have found this experience to be highly rewarding," added Major Wenckus, who will graduate from the program this summer. "Regardless of what awaits me in my future in the Air Force, I can confidently and highly recommend this program to any CGO looking to broaden their horizons."

For more information about the PM program, interested applicants can contact the AMC representatives, Capt. Jeremy Reeves or Cheryl Duff, at DSN 779-7950 or (618) 229-7950. The call for 2010 program applications is expected in early May with a submission deadline in mid-June.