TRANSCOM commander visits Bagram Airmen

AFGHANISTAN

11.14.2018

Story by Senior Airman Rito Smith 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

Airmen assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram recently had the opportunity to share their mission with U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Lyons, commander of U.S. Transportation Command, during a Veterans Day visit Nov. 11.

Lyons is the 13th USTRANSCOM commander and leads an enterprise of more than 144,000 logistics and transportation professionals.

Lyons met with several wing Airmen to discuss their specific roles and how they support the overall mission. He coined Airmen who displayed excellence in their career field and outstanding leadership abilities.

“The transportation command exists for one purpose,” Lyons said. “We are here to project and sustain military power globally.”

The visit included stops at several 455th AEW facilities including the recently dedicated Chapman Passenger Terminal—named after fallen hero and Medal of Honor Recipient Tech. Sgt. John Chapman—where Lyons met wing logistics personnel and learned how they fit into the global transportation mission.

“This visit was extremely important to the logistics community here as we were able to highlight many of our process improvements while advocating to the commander our challenges in receiving, processing and forward movement of cargo and personnel,” said Maj. Mieke Bruins, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander.

Since May the Wing has transported over 34,000 passengers, nearly 21,000 tons of cargo, nearly 330,000 pounds of weapons, and has completed 12 airdrops. As the primary hub for cargo and passenger movement in Afghanistan, the 455th continually streamlines and innovates air transportation processes for greater efficiency and impact to deliver timely, necessary supplies in support of U.S. and partner interests.

“These improvements will benefit customers now and as we transition to an enduring location, enabling logisticians to be flexible to the changing requirements of our customers,” Bruins said.

Lyons also visited the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron where he learned about the C-130J airlift capabilities and how it supports the mission, followed by hands-on demonstrations from aeromedical evacuation aircrew and flight equipment maintainers.

The final stop was the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, the most capable Role III trauma hospital in Afghanistan, where Lyons was taken on a journey that displayed what a patient would experience from the time they are medically evacuated until the time they leave the hospital.

The 455th AEW staffs the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, which serves as the hub for all aeromedical evacuation missions within the Combined Joint Operations Area-Afghanistan.

“I am honored to be here with you all,” Lyons said. “You are a miracle, everything you do every single day is saving lives and helping individuals be reunited with their families.”

• Date Taken: 11.14.2018
• Date Posted: 11.14.2018 01:22
• Story ID: 299847
• Location: AF