The 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Nineteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus. It plans and executes C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker enlisted aircrew training, providing formal school initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3000 students annually. The training is done in a three phase approach: Academic Phase, Simulator Phase, and Flying Phase.
Active for over 60 years, the 97th Bombardment Wing was a component organization of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force during the Cold War, as a strategic bombardment wing. During World War II, the 97th Operations Group's predecessor unit, the 97th Bombardment Group was the first VIII Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress bombardment group to fly a heavy bomber mission from the United Kingdom against the Rouen-Sotteville marshalling yards in France. It launched the attack from RAF Polebrook on 17 August 1942. In 1947, the 97th was originally a temporary organization, composed of components of the 97th Bombardment Group and the 519th Air Service Group. The Air Force was conducting a service test of a combat wing structure that elevated the wing headquarters to the highest echelon of command on the base. This gave the wing commander the authority to direct activities rather than merely request that his flying mission receive support from the base support group commander. Designated the "Tri-Deputate" organization, this organization blueprint became the standard for Air Force wings until the introduction of the current "Objective Wing" organization in 1991.
The 97th Air Mobility Wing is commanded by Colonel Anthony B. "Tony" Krawietz. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Robert A. Austin. The wing's operational mission is, in conjunction with its training mission, to have its instructor force maintain operational currency so that they, as highly-qualified combat-ready aircrew members, can deploy to augment worldwide contingencies. The 97th maintains approximately 500 mobility personnel ready to deploy all over the world in a moments notice in support of national interests.
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