JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
The 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force stood down and its subordinate units were administratively transferred to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a ceremony here Mar. 19 at the Global Reach Deployment Center.
"It is a bittersweet occasion any time an officer relinquishes command and doubly so when it involves casing the colors of a unit with such a proud tradition," said Brig. Gen Scott Goodwin, former 21st EMTF commander, now assigned as Expeditionary Center Commandant. "The EMTF has had a relatively short history of just eight-and-a-half years, but in that time has made tremendous contributions in terms of both mission accomplishment and furthering the development of AMC's global reach."
The inactivation of the 21 EMTF administratively aligned the 621st Contingency Response Wing here and the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, under the EC. This is the latest step in an ongoing restructuring process intended to enhance global air mobility operations, expeditionary education, and enroute and installation support.
"These changes represent a more effective and efficient way of carrying out our global air mobility mission," said Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th Air Force commander. "The reduction of 18th Air Force's span of control allows us to put greater focus on AMC's flying mission, especially the planning, exercising, execution, and assessment of airlift, air refueling, and aeromedical evacuation operations in support of combatant commanders across the globe.
"At the same time, these changes give the EC responsibility for a portfolio of missions which truly reflect their core competencies: contingency response, expeditionary combat support training, enroute and installation support, and building partnerships."
Ramsay added these changes built upon the success of restructuring efforts in January 2011, which placed responsibility for air base wings support with the EC. He also noted the latest efforts were expected to continue that success by placing contingency response and enroute forces under the same commander.
"The EC has provided critical training for many CRW and AMOW skills for years making it perfectly postured to shape all aspects of readiness from doctrine to training to execution," said Goodwin. "The new structure presents the EC with a unique opportunity to formulate more innovative solutions to operational challenges faced by non-flying wings."
AMC officials noted the restructuring resulted from a deliberative process, which brought together leaders at all levels. The process determined the course of action that best helped meet the command's obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer resources by operating and organizing in the most efficient and effective way possible.
The inactivation resulted in the loss of six active duty military and civilian positions here. However, a small staff was added to the EC in recognition of its increased workload and expanded responsibilities. While these changes placed units under the EC for administrative purposes, the 18th Air Force will retain its operational responsibility of presenting all 18th Air Force and EC forces to United States Transportation Command for mission execution.
"We face increasing demands and challenges in the areas of contingency response, expeditionary combat support training, enroute and installation support, and building partner capacity," said Maj. Gen. Bill Bender, EC commander. "As a result, we have an obligation to structure our organizations in a way that provides a clear focus on how to address them.
"Expanding the EC role to include the mission sets of enroute support and contingency response makes sense," Bender added. "It brings together the education and execution elements of expeditionary combat support under the same umbrella and allows us to operate in the most effective and efficient way possible."