JB CHS NEWS
The Patriot • October 7, 2011
3
AMC continues to ‘power the force – fuel the fight’ for energy efficiency Commentary by Gen. Ray Johns Commander, Air Mobility Command
worth repeating
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill – "Efficiency promotes effectiveness." That's a creed the Air Mobility Command Fuel Efficiency Office has lived by since its creation in 2008. Since then, they've helped save the Air Force millions of gallons of fuel as well as millions of dollars in the process. The FEO's motto and its efforts are just a part of what Air Mobility Command Airmen are doing to support energy efficiency and conservation across the command. For fiscal year 2012, the Air Force's motto for energy awareness is, "Power the force - fuel the fight." The Air Force, as well as AMC, is working to instill a culture of energy efficiency among all Airmen and their families. In the end, the effort helps us all. Changing our culture on energy use as a military force is critical to driving the new ideas and methodologies essential to achieving increased operational efficiency. We've had a good start at AMC and in the Air Force, but we can do more. We can make efforts similar to those of Lt. Col. Stan Davis, an Air Force Reservist from the 317th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Davis was a key player in building new approach and descent procedures for aircraft at the joint base where a historic agreement between the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration was made. The agreement establishes procedures for pilots called Optimized Profile Descent, or OPD, which reduces noises, fuel costs and emissions. Colonel Davis notes, "This new procedure allows pilots to fly descent profiles using [the lowest engine power setting] which reduces the amount of fuel consumed." The agreement, worked on by Davis went into effect Aug.
“Do your part to "power the force" with less energy, and continue to "fuel the fight" with new ideas for energy conservation.” Gen. Ray Johns Commander, Air Mobility Command
25 with new guidelines that establish four dedicated corridors of the airspace around Charleston, to allow any pilot the flexibility to descend at any gross weight on a predetermined track, guided by waypoints. Davis spent part of two years in C-17 simulators, inputting data from professors at Georgia Tech University into the test. The data gathered from optimized descents in civilian aircraft was then used in C-17 simulator trials to discover the best way to reduce fuel consumption. Experts from AMC's FEO say specific fuel savings from OPD procedures are hard to determine precisely, but "previous FAA demonstrations at Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta indicated a fuel savings of approximately 50 gallons or 340 pounds per arrival." Truly this whole effort is efficiency in action. Also, consider the efforts of Michael Miller at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Miller, an Energy Management Control Systems operator with the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron, was awarded the U.S. Federal Energy Management Program's 2011 Federal Energy and Water Management Award for Exceptional Service earlier in 2011.
Fairchild leaders say that over the past 20 years, Miller has led and overseen the installation and operation of three Energy Management Control Systems. His projects will accrue total lifetime savings of 1,326,000 British Thermal Units, $7.9 million in cost savings and avoid emissions of 70,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. A truly magnificent success! One more mobility Airman, Staff Sgt. Daniel Morrison of the 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Travis AFB, Calif., was also a key player in saving energy in AMC when he implemented an energy conservation plan for his unit's facility that saved more than $1,000 a month. After seeing the amount of energy his building was using, Morrison and his fellow maintenance Airmen turned off 50 percent of the aircraft hangar lights that typically remain on. Eventually, his unit "saved enough energy in one month to power another facility of similar size." Before the energy conservation plan was implemented, the monitors displayed 30 kilowatt hours of energy being used. After one month, they read 11 to 15 kilowatt hours. Just like those AMC energy savings leaders at Charleston, Fairchild and Travis, there are people throughout the mobility family doing great things every day to help our command. As we continue down the path of energy conservation and efficiency, I ask that each and every person in AMC to continue to find ways to further this effort. During October Energy Awareness Month, please make an extra effort to look into saving energy and becoming more efficient in your home and workplace. Do your part to "power the force" with less energy, and continue to "fuel the fight" with new ideas for energy conservation. Together through this effort we will be even more efficient while maintaining our unrivaled effectiveness, ready to answer the call of others anywhere in the world.
General Findley: ‘A dream worth living’ - continued from page two November of 2001 it was also a distinct personal honor to be deployed to the Air Operation Center in the Middle East that had the task of coordinating and executing the air war against those extreme Al-Qaida elements that launched the attacks of Sept. 11 from their safe haven in Afghanistan. As the Director of Mobility Forces for the Combined Forces Air Component Commander (in Southwest Asia), I was part of an incredible team that plowed new ground every day in prosecuting the fight against the enemy, and supporting the great young American fighting force that entered this land-locked country to track down this enemy. With new locations like Bagram, Kandahar, Kabul, and Mazar-a-Sharif becoming part of our daily lexicon, I watched as great, selfless Airmen from our command put everything on the line to support our national effort. It was truly a notable time in the history of our command and our Air Force as folks of all walks of life distinguished themselves in combat just as their forefathers had in conflicts of the past. The world "stopped" on Sept. 11, 2001, but before long a new type national rhythm took root. And while the aftermath of Sept. 11 was always, rightfully, a large part of the mosaic we gradually restored pre-9/11 focus to global interests beyond the Middle East. Fortunately we had the pleasure of experiencing and playing a small part in nurturing and growing our
relationships with our Asian and European allies during this period. As the 5th Air Force vice commander in Japan and the Director of Plans and Policy for U.S. Air Forces in Europe during the 2002 to 2005 timeframe, we had the privilege of befriending and working with allies from throughout Asia and Europe to further our valued relationships that are so necessary in a post-9/11 world. Not only did we partner with these great friends to help with the global war on terror, but we also worked hard to strengthen and nurture relationships that went beyond just battling terrorism as together we worked to provide mutual support to support the ideals of democracy throughout the globe. Progress was tangible, but as with every leg of the 35year journey, it's the faces that I will remember -- wonderful young American men and women as well as the many great friends from the sister nations that we had the honor to partner with to try to help make the world a better place for all. The 35-year ride took a turn down a familiar street in 2005. From 2005 to 2008, the Middle East once again became our "world." As the J5 for Multi-National Forces Iraq, I spent a year in Baghdad during the '05-'06 timeframe. From there we went to U.S. Central Command in Tampa (Fla.) as the J5 from '06-'08...which meant that Sandy spent her time in Tampa and I spent the
majority of my time in the CENTCOM area -- Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kazakstan, Pakistan and others -- most of you know as the "neighborhood." Difficult? Yes! Satisfying? Most definitely! These three years certainly go a long way in defining the entire 35-year journey. While difficult for friends and family alike, it's hard to put in words the pride that I take from being able to be associated in just a small way with this noble and historic effort. Our nation has embraced the sacrifice and dedication of the men and women of our military in a way that transcends all political or personal allegiances, and rightfully so. These great young men and women have become the symbol of all that is good about the United States of America. Having seen them up close and personal as they sacrifice in this epic struggle between good and evil, I must say that this admiration and respect is not misplaced. The faces I remember from these three years are numerous and they are the best our great country has to offer -heroes indeed in a world constantly in search of heroes. The past three-plus years have completed the dream in a fashion we will forever be grateful. Returning to our roots in the air mobility business as the vice commander of this fabulous command we're part of is the storybook ending we could never have imagined. For more than three years, we've watched as
the extraordinary folks of Air Mobility Command have answered the call time and time again so that others could prevail. This oft underreported element of airpower has indeed proved a game-changer in so many varied and diverse operations over the past three years, and for that matter, for many decades. Whether the young men and women of the command are saving lives, fueling the fight or delivering hope, they have constantly distinguished themselves in a manner that doesn't make headlines but always matters! As we complete this 35-year dream and move to the veranda for a beverage of our choice, we will continue to watch with awe the impact that a command that has a presence around the globe, 24/7/365, has in so many different places and in so many varied ways. It is truly an asymmetric advantage for our nation that has no rival anywhere on this planet. We have lived the "dream with our eyes wide open" for more than 35 years...and we're forever thankful for the chance. And as we leave, I'm reminded of part of a poem from W.B. Yeats that I think captures our thoughts most succinctly, "Think where man's glory most begins and ends, and I say my glory was I had such friends." Sandy and I thank you for the treasure of a lifetime -- 35-plus years of service in our great Air Force.
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