- [Narrator] So what exactly
does Air Force Material Command do for the Air Force anyway?
We could start by saying we're a command
of more than 87,000 strong
with lots of really smart people
who do really important things
but that doesn't begin to tell the story of AFMC.
From uniforms to runways, to aircraft, to nuclear weapons,
the food our airman eat, to the tools our airmen use.
The AFMC mission impacts everything the Air Force does.
Our mission is to develop, deliver, support,
and sustain war winning capabilities for our war fighters.
That means we investigate and develop new technology.
Make that technology work for the war fighter
buy it, maintain it, and make sure it continues to work
through upgrades and maintenance.
We do this to make sure our Air Force
continues to be the most lethal air space
and cyber force the world has ever known.
AFMC airmen have their hand in every Air Force mission.
Now, how does one command manage
to touch every Air Force mission?
Say hello to our workforce,
over 87,000 patriots around the globe,
AFMC airmen are everywhere.
We are made up of six centers responsible
for research and development,
acquisition,
testing,
maintenance,
sustainment,
and daily mission support for our conventional
and nuclear weapons systems.
We build and maintain installations across the globe.
We retire, worn out weapons systems
and we preserve the stories and heritage of our Air Force
for future generations.
From inception to retirement, AFMC does it all
and our nation is counting on us to do it all.
Let's try to break this down a bit.
Think about your car,
when you drove it off the lot did you think
about the designers who created the cutting edge vehicle?
The engineers who made sure the radio
doesn't turn on the windshield wipers?
Probably not, but in reality, that's exactly what AFMC does.
When our war fighters need a new weapon system,
we come up with a concept, an idea.
We work with all six of our centers towards a common goal
of delivering what our Air Force needs to fly,
fight, and win today and in the future.
Now let's take a quick look at what these centers do
to make things happen for AFMC.
First up are the scientists, engineers, the idea people.
These airmen find, develop
and deliver new military technologies.
Re-imagining what's possible
to create innovative new capabilities for our military.
What are we talking about?
How about metals and ceramics for engines?
To withstand the extreme heat and high pressure environments
for hypersonic speeds.
Our new stretchable liquid metal systems can conduct energy
regardless of shape or strain.
Our high powered electromagnetic system
can strategically defeat swarming drones in an instant,
and we're developing high speed weapons to keep our enemies
at bay in contested environments.
AFRL pushes the boundaries
of what's possible for air and space.
The airmen of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
are the shoppers for the command.
They play a key role in finding solutions
that get technology in our war fighters hands
as fast as possible.
Our Life Cycle Management Center teams work
with mission partners and contractors
to create solutions for Air Force weapons
and systems from beginning to retirement
ensuring our war fighters have the competitive advantage.
If airmen fly it, fuel it, transport it,
drive it, wear it, eat it, communicate with it,
or drop it on targets, our AFLCMC airmen provide it.
They have developed and managed
the most powerful Air Force on the planet.
So let's circle back to your new car.
Let's say you're driving down the road
and you turn on your radio expecting your favorite tunes,
instead, your blinker turns on.
Now imagine that lack of detailed engineering
in a lethal weapon system
we have to make sure our systems work right.
Our Air Force Test Center
methodically checks out each system
the Life Cycle Management Center buys
to eliminate problems and issues
before a system reaches a war fighter hands
and make sure the taxpayer gotten what they paid for.
They test the limits of our new systems,
so operators stay safe.
They broke the sound barrier in 1947
and they continue to take appropriate risks to ensure airmen
come home safe from the fight.
Once the system is placed into action
it needs to be maintained just like you should take your car
to the mechanic for routine maintenance
our Air Force weapons systems need periodic servicing
and updates to stay in action.
That's the role of our teams at
the Air Force Sustainment Center
through our depots located across the US,
our skilled maintainers and craftsmen
provide world-class maintenance and supply chain management
leveraging cutting edge systems
to predict future failures.
Print parts with 3D printers and reverse engineer cards
to ensure our platforms retain the cutting edge
for the war fighter.
Our AFSE teams, our mechanics,
keep our aircraft and systems as ready
as possible for our airmen across the globe.
(machine operating)
AFMC is also responsible for ensuring
our nation's nuclear deterrent is never doubted
and always feared.
Our Nuclear Weapons Center airmen synchronize all aspects
of nuclear material management for our nation.
From developing next generation capabilities
to supporting development and testing of nuclear weapons
for our Air Force and sustaining current capabilities
for decades to come, while the other centers are focusing
on systems and platforms.
Our Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
is hard at work, ensuring installations
and support structures exist for our airmen
and the systems they bring to the fight.
Just as you will need a place to drive and park your car
AFIMSC ensures airmen have the infrastructure they need too,
much like a City Works Department maintains
and repairs roads, AFIMSC oversees
the development and maintenance of the buildings, housing,
roads, and airfields.
They manage the policemen, landscapers
and construction workers for bases.
They ensure we have the right gas in our vehicles
and fuel in our airmen through our dining facilities
and healthy eating initiatives.
The Installation and Mission Support Center shapes
the foundation of America's air, space and cyber power
and ensures our bases can project air
and space power anywhere in the world.
Air Force systems can not operate indefinitely
and part of our mission at AFMC is to plan for
and retire our aircraft and systems at the end
of their operational life.
Much like when your car reaches 150,000 miles
you must decide what is next.
You will likely seek to buy a new vehicle.
But what happens to the old one?
It's retired and often used for parts,
the aircraft maintenance and regeneration group,
also part of the sustainment center is responsible
for the long-term storage
of more than 4,000 retired aircraft.
We can resurrect whole aircraft or use their parts to repair
and maintain operational aircraft.
Finally, we have the honor
of preserving our air and space force heritage
at the National Museum of the Air Force.
We keep more than 135,000 Air Force artifacts and stories
to educate future generations on the history
and importance of air and space power.
It's located in Dayton, Ohio, and it's the oldest
and largest Military Aviation Museum in the world.
From concept through design, operational use to final rest
there is not a platform, system, or product
that hasn't been touched by an AFMC airmen.
We think our job is pretty important.
Actually, we are the most important command
to ensure our nation stays one step ahead
of our adversaries, to deter future wars
and if deterrence fails to win.
We are one AFMC.
Powering the world's greatest Air Force.
(upbeat music)