The Mobility Forum The Mobility Forum

A group of five stars with the air force emblem on top.

AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD Presented to SSgt Alex J. Santiago 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, MD

By STAFF WRITER

SSGT SANTIAGO dedicated fifty-six hours to mitigating asbestos exposure for three hundred members across three squadrons.

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A 353d Special Operations Support Squadron Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element Airman practices maneuvering a side-by-side during an Air Force Special Operations Command Tactical Vehicle Chief Instructor Course at Kadena Air Base, Japan. USAF photo by Capt Jessica Tait

Tactical Vehicle Safety

By SSGT LAUREN DOUGLAS, AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Department of the Air Force (DAF) personnel operate a wide variety of vehicles to execute our missions. Transportation professionals operating in land, air, space, and water domains must adhere to safe practices and strict standards.

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The pack of a student training to become a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape specialist sits on the ground during a ruck march at Camp Bullis, Texas. USAF photo by Capt Jose Davis

Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Training

By MR. TERENCE M. MULLIGAN, STAFF WRITER

It is one thing to be a great pilot or aircrew member—you strive for excellence on any mission and aim to serve with professionalism and honor. However, expertise at your assigned task is only part of the equation. It is another thing when the unforeseen happens—if an aircraft is shot down or suffers a malfunction and the crew is forced to eject over enemy territory, into a body of water or harsh climate, becoming isolated personnel (IP) to survive until rescue crews can bring them back to safety.

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A group of five stars with the air force emblem on top.

AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD Presented to the Joint Base Charleston Crash Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Recovery and Airfield Management Team

By STAFF WRITER

The Air Mobility Command (AMC) Well Done Award is presented to the Joint Base (JB) Charleston Crash Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) and Airfield Management team in recognition of their outstanding performance responding to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Department helicopter crash on JB Charleston.

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Stylized tangle of fiber-optic line.

Misinformation … or Manipulation? Why Mobility Airmen Must Approach AI Advancements with Caution

By MRS. LAUREN FOSNOT, STAFF WRITER

Do you have a minute? Great. Step into this time machine and press this button. You are now enroute to early 18th century Britain. As you are chauffeured through the most quintessential English villages, please keep your hands and feet in the vehicle—although these folks could certainly use a hand!

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Capt Katie Parker, a Combat Systems Officer assigned to the 15th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, FL, shared her story of how recent Air Force policy changes allowed her to continue flying during her pregnancy. Aircrew are now able to voluntarily request to fly through all three trimesters of their pregnancy. USAF photo by SrA Natalie Fiorilli

Cultivating a Culture of Safety and Inclusivity: How Women Are Identifying Potential Barriers and Recommending Solutions for Mobility Airmen

By MS. LORI HOGAN, STAFF WRITER

According to the 2020 Demographics Profile of the Military Community, nearly 70,000 active-duty women, or 21.1 percent, make up the Air Force. In fact, the Air Force has the highest percentage of women serving across the armed forces. In addition, approximately 95,800 Air Force service members are among a racial minority group. Although the Air Force is making progress, seemingly small gaps exist that can affect the safety, well-being, and readiness of these dedicated Airmen.

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A group of five stars with the air force emblem on top.

AIR MOBILITY COMMAND WELL DONE AWARD Presented to the 60th Air Mobility Wing Civilian Fly-In Event Staff Travis Air Force Base, CA

By STAFF WRITER

On August 26, 2023, a dedicated team of professionals distinguished themselves by outstanding achievement when flawlessly executing the Travis Air Force Base (TAFB), CA, Mid-Air Collision Avoidance (MACA) Civilian Fly-In and Safety Seminar.

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Neuroscience research shows that just acknowledging stress can help the body process it more consciously and less reactively.

Combating Chronic Stress: The Power of Physical and Mental Rest

By MRS. LAUREN FOSNOT, STAFF WRITER

As Mobility Airmen, stress is often a part of the job. Acute stress, or stress that lasts a short time (i.e., minutes to hours), can be beneficial because it can improve one’s performance when challenges lie ahead.

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A Mountain lion walking on a trail.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

By MRS. LAUREN FOSNOT, STAFF WRITER

Hiking can mean different things to different people. For some, hiking means leisurely strolling in the great outdoors; for others, it is a steep, uphill trek that gets the heart pumping. Regardless of intensity, many people would agree that hiking is the perfect escape to clear and calm the mind.

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Example of distributed electric propulsion in an exhibit at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s D60 Symposium. The Aurora XV-24 LightningStrike is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle created by Aurora Flight Sciences and partners Rolls-Royce and Honeywell. Photo by Daderot

Distributed Electric Propulsion and What It Means for Safety

By MS. TIFFANY L. TOLBERT, STAFF WRITER

Distributed electric propulsion (DEP) systems are based on the idea that closely integrating an aircraft’s propulsion system with its airframe and spacing multiple motors across the wing will increase efficiency, lower operating costs, and reduce carbon dioxide and other common greenhouse gas emissions.

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Two heads with a light bulb inside of them

Behavior-Based Safety: The Power of Care

By MS. MICHELLE PIEHL, STAFF WRITER

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,486 fatal work injuries, or 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, were reported in the United States in 2022, representing a 5.7 percent increase year over year. The Air Force Times reports seventy-five noncombat U.S. Air Force mishaps occurred in fiscal year 2023, representing an approximate 12 percent increase year over year.

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Fight or Flight graphic.

The Art of the Reflex: Training, Resilience, and Survival

By MS. TIFFANY L. TOLBERT, STAFF WRITER

A human reflex is defined as an automatic response to stimulus that does not require conscious thought. A superhuman reflex can be referred to as an automatic reaction to danger with great speed or heightened abilities. Superhuman reflexes encompass enhanced reactions, enhanced reaction times, and enhanced preparedness. All of these are characteristic of Airmen. When Airmen are involved in or witness an emergency (e.g., hearing an explosion or watching a life-threatening situation unfold), their human and superhuman reflexes kick in. They start running toward the scene, rather than away, displaying courage, and executing solutions.

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