DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- On 26-27 August 2022, members of the 317th Airlift Wing, spouses, children and parents gathered to bid farewell as they watched their loved ones deploy to the middle east in support of U.S. Central Command taskings.
These Dyess Airmen have been training in agile combat employment readiness exercises for months leading up to the deployment. This departure marked the shift from the “ready” to “available to commit” phase within the Air Force’s newest deployment model.
The 317th Airlift Wing is the first unit in AMC to deploy in the “available to commit” phase of the Air Force Force Generation model initially conceived by former Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David L. Goldfein, replacing the current Air Expeditionary Force construct to balance today’s combatant commander needs while building high-end readiness for the future.
“Our Airmen will support three major roles in their deployment to CENTCOM,” said Col. Tom Lankford, 317th AW commander. “Not only will this deployment be one of the first implementations of the new Air Force Force Generation model, but it will also serve to support Operation Inherent Resolve and assure our partners in CENTCOM of U.S. commitments.”
The 317th AW Airmen will employ tactical airlift by providing C-130 support for Joint Task Force-OIR. Their rapid global mobility role will serve to enable the whole-of-coalition government actions to increase regional stability and support the fight against ISIS.
“To accelerate change in defense of national security, we need to focus on building a more lethal and modern force concentrated on maximizing future capabilities,” said Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Air Force chief of staff. “The success of this model requires nothing less than a cultural shift by preserving forces as we move away from the mentality of the past toward a more sustainable model enabling the Air Force to deliver Airpower … anytime, anywhere.”
“This mission will make a tremendous difference for our partners, but it is always important to acknowledge the support of our military families during this transition,” said Lankford. “We are proud of our Airmen for providing Rapid Global Mobility from the heart of Abilene, America’s lift and strike base.”