U.S. TRANSCOM commander gets inside look at 615th CRW

  • Published
  • By 1st. Lt. Nicole Langley
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the head of U.S. Transportation Command on base for a change-of-command and retirement ceremony Nov. 13, the 615th Contingency Response Wing jumped at the opportunity to highlight the wing's 'tip of the spear' mission to the general. 

Gen. Duncan McNabb, USTRANSCOM commander received an in-depth look at the 615 CRW, through one-on-one briefings with some of the wing's elite warrior Airmen, as well as a tour of the wing's newest facility, the Global Reach Deployment Center. 

While he's no stranger to the 615 CRW's unique mission, this was the first time the general has visited since taking the helm of U.S. TRANSCOM earlier this year. 

"The CRW is a great example of being expeditionary and allowing us to be global," said the general as he traveled to the wing's new facility. "It really is one of the crown jewels in the nation." 

After receiving an update from Col. John Lipinski, 615 CRW commander, on the structure of the 615 CRW, the specifics of the tailorable Contingency Response Teams and Elements that the wing is capable of deploying, the general shared his thoughts on how the wing has matured since its inception in 2005. 

The wing is now capable of total force, with Reserve and Guard counterparts, and joint force missions, with Joint Task Force - Port Opening with the U.S. Army, explained General McNabb. 

"Everything keeps falling into place and keeps getting better," he continued. 

Once inside the Global Reach Deployment Center, which had its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 5, the general received briefings from wing members about the key components of the 615 CRW. 

One of those individuals was Capt. Nick Zervos, Air Mobility Liaison Officer assigned to the 615th Contingency Operations Support Group and stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. 

As an AMLO, the captain is attached to a Army unit and provides critical mobility expertise on the frontlines to support the warfighter. 

Captain Zervos explained to the general about the unique mission of AMLOs and how they are the face of Air Mobility Command to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.
After briefing General McNabb, Captain Zervos expressed his enthusiasm about being able to bring the AMLO mission to the forefront of the general's attention. 

"The AMLO mission is often overlooked and misunderstood," said the captain. "It was great to highlight it to the TRANSCOM commander." 

As he continued his tour through the wing's new facility, the general paused to praise the wing. 

"Every time I'm here, I get blown away with what I see. I'm just blown away with where you've come since I was last here." 

Before departing Travis, the general shared his final thoughts about what he had seen during his afternoon tour with the 615 CRW. 

"This is the leading edge of the TRANSCOM mission," he said. "To get to see our young Airmen and the young lieutenants, young captains and newest chiefs, who understand where we were yesterday and where we're going to go tomorrow - it absolutely inspires me"