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Air Mobility Warfare Center renamed

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Sturkol
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
FORT DIX, N.J. --  A snare drum roll accented the occasion as the colors of the Air Mobility Warfare Center were rolled up and the new flag holding the name "United States Air Force Expeditionary Center" was unfurled during a re-designation ceremony here Monday. 

Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Air Mobility Command commander, presided over the ceremony renaming the former AMWC to the USAF EC. Also attending from his immediate staff were Lt. Gen. Christopher Kelly, vice commander and former AMWC commander, and AMC Command Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Barron. 

"If you want to know why you've become the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, it's because you earned it," General McNabb said to a standing-room-only audience of more than 300 people in the center's Grace Peterson Hall. 

In discussing the need for the name change, General McNabb said it began with the decision to align all warfare centers under one center -- the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. From there, through further discussion, it was determined the mission of the AMWC was still something the Air Force needed. 

"We said what we're doing there is Air Force level (training)," General McNabb said. "A good example of that is Eagle Flag. So we said this shouldn't be 'air mobility,' we said this should be the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center." 

The general went on to note the historical achievements of the Air Mobility Warfare Center and how, as each mission or task was assigned to help the warfighting Airman, the AMWC got the job done and "lives have been saved." He also referenced how former AMC Commander and Air Force Chief of Staff, retired Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, recently shared with him that standing up the Center was "one of the biggest and best decisions he ever made." 

The Center's Commander, Maj. Gen. Scott Gray, said the name change was part of a historic day for the USAF EC, but it also means the work will only get tougher.
"We have demonstrated velocity and precision in the work we've done," General Gray said. "Now, more than ever, we need to demonstrate veracity. We must continue to use lessons learned and apply them to the best training, tactics and procedures possible to ensure that what we're teaching is 100 percent correct."
 
General Gray added that even with the new name, students and commanders will continue to get a great value from their training time here. 

"In terms of value, we have to provide the best bang for the buck," General Gray said. "Commanders entrust us with their Airmen and we must always ensure they are getting a better trained and prepared Airman back in the unit." The Air Mobility Warfare Center was activated here on May 1, 1994. The brainchild of General Fogleman, it served as the command's single focal point for advanced education, training and testing. 

Since offering its first course in June 1994, the Center's curriculum catalog has grown to include over 60 in-residence courses and 12 accredited Web-based courses. The number of students completing these programs is approximately 8,700 per year.
On Dec. 1, 2003, the Air Mobility Warfare Center streamlined and reorganized its directorates and schools to meet the mobility challenges of the 21st Century.
 
Created were the USAF Expeditionary Operations School and the USAF Mobility Operations School. The USAF Mobility Weapons School also fell under the AMWC from 2003 to 2006. It was deactivated in 2006 and the three MWS squadrons (C-17, C-130 and KC-135) were realigned under the USAF Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. 

Prior to the redesignation, the center was presented with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award from General McNabb. General Gray reflected on the award and highlighted the need to set new benchmarks for excellence. 

"What we've done in the past is fabulous and one of the proudest moments of my career was to accept this Air Force award on behalf of the Center," General Gray said. "But that's all history now. We need to go forward and make new history -- as the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center."