AMLOs reunite during MSOS summit

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Weekly meetings and daily interaction with co-workers and immediate chain of command is the norm for most members of the U.S. Military, but for the air mobility liaison officers of the 621st Mobility Support Operations Squadron, three per year would be a wish come true.

Approximately 27 AMLOs stationed in 14 bases world-wide reunited for the bi-annual 621st MSOS Summer 2016 Summit to synchronize and share ideas at the U.S. Expeditionary Center, June 27 – 30 here.

The summit is critical due to the unique structure for the AMLOs in the MSOS. The MSOS belongs to the 621st Contingency Response Wing co-located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and Travis Air Force Base, California. AMLOs operate in one deep slots overseas and in the U.S., usually attached to a Marine or Army unit. Their objective is to assist and advise those units for the most efficient and effective way to use airlift provided by the Air Force.

“This summit is a chance for us to meet each other,” said Maj. Mabel Hudspeth, 621st MSOS AMLO attached to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan. “Because of our difficulties with the distance, we are not able to communicate as easily. We communicate mostly via email and they may take 24 hours to answer because some people are waking up just as the next AMLO is going to sleep.”

AMLOs help Army and Marine units communicate during operations involving airlift by making sure everyone is on the same page during the process.

“Additionally, there are a lot of diplomatic clearances involved requesting for hazardous materials to go to various countries which is not always easy,” Hudspeth said. “AMLOs are there to help them understand all of the processes involved with airlift.”

Maj. John Fruccillo, an AMLO attached to the 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colorado, said it takes a specific kind of personality to be an AMLO.

“You have to be autonomous and be able to ask for support where the unit may not be poised to support you,” Fruccillo said. “The ability to go out on your own and advocate for the airlift system is a challenge in itself.”