The Mobility Forum Dara Marlar

On May 5–6, 2022, Airmen from the 22d Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, KS, completed one of Air Mobility Command’s (AMC) longest duration refueling flights in history: a 24.2-hour flight on one of the Air Force’s newest tankers—the KC-46 Pegasus. The flight, which spanned more than 9,000 miles (along both U.S. coasts), demonstrated the impressive capabilities of the mighty aircraft.

SSgt Shanelle Newman, the first African American female Grey Beret and now a Combat Weather Parachutist, was hesitant to go airborne during the early part of her Air Force career. That hesitancy quickly subsided once she learned of Operation Christmas Drop. Getting to “play Santa” would quickly become an incredibly rewarding experience.

Labor Day weekend has come and gone, which means one thing: summer is over. We now look forward to shorter days, a drop in temperature, and a new season of adventures.

AMC FY22 Mishap Statistics Scoreboard

The chilly mountain air in late October contrasted starkly to the warm spirit of camaraderie felt at the 54th Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA) Air Mobility Symposium & Technology Exposition. This year’s convention took place at the renowned Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, on October 27-30, 2022.

Spider-Man has his SpiderSense—or Peter-Tingle if you are a fan of his most recent films— and Batman has years of ninja training under his utility belt to help keep him out of danger. Airmen live in the real world but still have access to aviation software that, to a nonpilot, sounds like something Tony Stark would use in one of his Iron Man suits.

Col Matthew “Trap” Crowell, Chief of Aviation Safety at the Air Force Safety Center, has learned the importance of effective communication during his years in the Air Force and believes it starts with relationship building.

The holidays are a time of joy and togetherness. In truth, however, they can also be a time of stress. We try to juggle so much— work, getting together with family and friends, perhaps buying that perfect gift for each special person. Something has to give, and usually, it is our physical or emotional health—or both.

As with anything there is the good and the bad, which is also true of social media. It is great to have an opportunity to connect with others on such sites as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook, but there is a catch. How do you stay safe from the scammers who want to connect?

Winter is a beautiful time of year, and the cold weather is a favorite among many. However, the snow and ice bring an increased chance of a vehicle crash.

Airmen are warriors who face danger regularly; they stay hyperfocused, often while under fire, to keep themselves and others safe during harrowing missions. Even warriors need downtime, but it is essential to keep safety in mind, even off-duty.

The defense of our nation requires Airmen to be ready to deploy at all times. Consequently, at some point in their career, an Airman will likely receive news of an opportunity to be deployed—to take on the task of defending the people and resources of the United States.