AMC interim commander stresses airmen and aircraft readiness at AFA

Air Mobility Command’s interim leader used the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium to press for accelerated investment in connectivity, survivability and modernization across the mobility enterprise, framing those priorities as essential to readiness if deterrence fails.

Speaking Feb. 24 in Aurora, Colorado, Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss said the command must equip mobility Airmen to operate in contested environments and move quickly to refresh its aging strategic airlift fleet. “The things we need to invest in to ensure we can operate in contested environments is connectivity, survivability and modernization,” said Sonkiss. “All of those things are necessary, and we must [rapidly] give those tools to our Airmen, so they can get after exercising with them.”

Readiness dominated the three-day symposium and was echoed by the Air Force’s senior leadership. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach underscored a back-to-basics focus on “fly and fix” as the service’s core mission set. “Flying and fixing is about the maintainers generating aircraft, the weapons troops loading with precision, intel sharpening the picture and defenders securing the flight line,” he said. “It’s tankers extending their range, planners stitching the timeline together, command and control assets communicating clearly and providing timely information to our shooters.”

Sonkiss tied that vision directly to near-term decisions about platforms and networks. She said recapitalizing strategic airlift is imperative and called for advancing a Next Generation Airlift program to succeed the C-5M Super Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. “I have to modernize the mobility fleet. We must figure out the pathway for C-5 and C-17,” stated Sonkiss. “The strategic airlift fleet doesn’t often gain traction in the narrative of what we need to modernize…but we must come up with what the Next Generation Airlifter is because it is key to the readiness of the Joint Force.”

Beyond hardware, Sonkiss emphasized modern, resilient connectivity across mobility aircraft and the global air mobility support system, including aeromedical evacuation forces and the 618th Air Operations Center. She said better data and communications can harden mobility assets by improving battlespace awareness and enabling the joint force to communicate, inform and re-task as missions evolve. “What I will tell you that I’m most worried about for our crews remains connectivity for aircraft, your mobility forces are not connected,” Sonkiss explained. “We are on a pathway to get there…If [mobility is] integrated into the scheme of maneuver, I have an increase in survivability, it’s imperative for us to do that.”

She pointed to recent operations where expanded connectivity provided an edge. “We had Midnight Hammer and the [Southern Command] operations as well, where the connectivity in our KC-46 actually played out in being that assured connectivity for our [joint] partners, where they were able to relay information on the mission and ensure that there was not failure in execution.”

Sonkiss also outlined a manpower approach aimed at preserving the readiness of active-duty forces while meeting day-to-day global demand. She said predictive mobilization models that better incorporate Total Force Airmen could ease operational requirements and expand training for the active component. “And what we’ve been trying to do to help increase readiness for the active force—because they’re the ones that are usually the easiest to access—is to build predictive mobilization models where we put the [Air Reserve Component] forward to help give us capacity,” said Sonkiss. “We can do global operations, day in and day out, and preserve some readiness for the next fight.”

The interim commander, who assumed the role earlier this month, closed by praising the pace and ingenuity of AMC units at home and abroad. “Please know that your Airmen in Air Mobility Command are doing amazing work for the nation. You should be really proud of them, I am every day,” Sonkiss stated.

She concluded by highlighting the inventiveness Airmen are applying to complex problem sets to ensure the command is prepared for the future fight.