The Mobility Forum Stories

SrA Davin Capeda, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Crew Chief, checks the tire pressure on a KC-135 Stratotanker July 7, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, in support of Mobility Guardian 2023.USAF photo by TSgt Alexander Cook. A1C David Stanger, a Crew Chief with the 62d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, services the engine oil on a C-17 Globemaster III participating in Exercise Rainier War 23A at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, Sept. 26, 2023.USAF photo by SrA Callie Norton. A1C Nathaniel Quesnel, 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Avionics Specialist, installs a high-frequency radio prototype on a KC-135 Stratotanker at MacDill Air Force Base, FL, Feb. 13, 2024.USAF photo by SrA Joshua Hastings

The Art of Predicting the Future

By COL JOHN B. KELLEY, DIRECTOR OF SAFETY

Let me start with a question: When was the last time you tried to predict the future? Did you predict something good and then attempt to make it a reality, or did you predict something bad and try to prevent it from coming to pass? What information did you use and how much of your prediction was “gut feeling”? (OK, that was three questions.) For safety professionals, this process is called Proactive Safety: collecting data from the field, identifying hazards, and developing risk mitigations. However, it is a different story when your predictions are written down and on public display.

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Flood relief items bound for Pakistan are loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, September 9, 2022 at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron worked hand in hand with Airmen from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to load more than 90,000 pounds of humanitarian aid bound for Pakistan. USAF photo by TSgt Jeffrey Grossi

Tempo Triumph: How AMC Airmen Sustained Speed in Pakistan’s Flood Crisis

By MRS. LAUREN FOSNOT, STAFF WRITER

In the wake of natural disasters, rapid response can mean the difference between life and death for affected communities. Recognizing this need for urgency, Air Mobility Command (AMC) Airmen, in the face of hurdles, worked tirelessly “at tempo”—a term used by AMC Commander Gen Mike Minihan to describe the swift pace of operations—to provide lifesaving sustainment for thirty-three million Pakistanis, whose country was afflicted by catastrophic floods in 2022.

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Department of the Air Force Safety Strategic Plan for 2024-2027.

Safety Enterprise Announces New Mission, Vision, Goals in 2024 Strategic Plan

By HEADQUARTERS, AIR FORCE SAFETY CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Air Force Safety Center released a new strategic plan, outlining new goals and focus areas to align with U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) priorities.

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Traffic sign with the words "Safety First".

OPERATIONALIZING SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT

By KEVIN SLUSS, CSP, AMC FLIGHT SAFETY

Safety risk management is a critical aspect of any organization, particularly those operating in industries where safety is paramount, such as aviation, healthcare, and nuclear power. It involves identifying potential hazards, assessing the associated risks, and implementing measures to mitigate or eliminate those risks. However, the effectiveness of safety risk management depends heavily on how well it is operationalized within an organization. This article explores the concept of operationalizing safety risk management and examines its key components, challenges, and best practices.

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Airmen from the 141st Air Refueling Wing run to a KC-135 Stratotanker during a simulated alert response at Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, June 1, 2024. USANG photo by SrA Anneliese Kaiser

MISSION PRESSURE—Understanding the Motivation and Its Pitfalls

By MR. SEAN A. BORDENAVE, AMC HQ/A3TO

Although we may not recognize the term “mission pressure,” we can probably remember situations in which we felt mission pressure. Here is an Airman Safety Action Program (ASAP) excerpt that will help describe mission pressure:

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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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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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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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