JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Whether they are establishing a new airfield across the globe or providing humanitarian aid to impoverished nations – the Airmen of the 621st Contingency Response Wing are often the first ones there.
The 621st CRW Airmen provide mission support to units all around the world at a moment’s notice. However, the wing doesn’t have any aircraft of its own.
When the CRW leaders receive the call to rapidly deploy, Air Mobility Command officials secure an aircraft and pilot. While an aircraft may be assigned from any of AMC’s installations, they need to look no further than the CRW’s neighbor here - the 305th Air Mobility Wing.
“It makes sense to utilize the aircraft at this installation due to the physical proximity of our units,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Wiesner, 6th Airlift Squadron Operations Flight, operations officer. “From here, we can support the 621st CRW’s ability to deploy at a moment’s notice.”
Due to the joint partnership of the wings and capabilities provided by the 305th AMW aircraft, the 621st CRW Airmen can deploy rapidly to accomplish any mission.
“Because we’re a contingency response wing, we are usually the first ones in,” said Tech. Sgt. Jacob Mallett, 621st Contingency Response Squadron flight chief. “Right now, if we get the call saying ‘get your bags and deploy,’ all of our equipment is ready to go. When we get the call, we’re out the door, and there has to be an aircraft ready.”
Once the ‘Can Do’ aircraft arrives on scene, contingency response Airmen establish a base of operations during forward deployments or crisis response. They’re responsible for establishing a blueprint for the incoming units who then take over the infrastructure laid down by the CRW.
“We are basically a mobile air base,” said Mallett. “We have our own fuels [Airmen], aerial porters, air marshals and maintainers. Each squadron in the CRW is equipped to provide anything we need to be self-sustaining.”
The CRW’s ability to provide a foothold for an American response anywhere in the world enables friendly forces to move the fight forward or lend a helping hand to our allies.
“We’re the bread and butter of Air Mobility Command,” said Tech. Sgt. Jacob McCloud, 621 CRS air transportation. “We’re the centerpiece of Rapid Global Mobility, and the services we provide are essential.”