The Belletarian
	Rotary International Chapter 690 • Belleville, IL • District 6510

 
Commander for Air Mobility Operations visits Belleville Rotary Club

     Colonel Greg Cook, the 621st Air Mobility Operation Group Commander, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, recently served as the guest speaker for a Belleville Rotary luncheon meeting.
     Colonel Cook is a Command Pilot with 3,700 hours flying C-5 Airlifters, KC-135 Refueling Aircraft, C-21 corporate jets and trainer aircraft. He is a veteran of Operations JUST CAUSE, DESERT SHIELD  and DESERT STORM, and numerous humanitarian relief missions, as well as various mobility operations around the globe.  Colonel Cook served at the pentagon in various positions including as the Aide-de-Camp to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff.
     Known as the "Devils Raiders" the 621st AMOG serves as the Air Mobility Command's "First Responder" setting up aerial port operations, often in undeveloped areas in harm's way. In just four days, 97 missions were recently flown into the high desert of Afghanistan, delivering Marine Corps troops. In all, it took 18 hours.
     Also in his presentation, Colonel Cook explained that the Air Mobility Command serves the national leaders by providing the aircraft and other means of transport through the application of non-lethal weapons without harm. Their main mission is to deliver things.
     Examples of this include:
·      C-17's used to drop food to people in Afghanistan, with the intent of showing them that they were not only going to fight for their freedom, but that they were also there to aid them.
·      Precision Weaponry & Precise Targeting recently consisting of using a B2 and two pilots for sixteen targets in one mission.

     Colonel Cook talked about the difference from ten years ago when only 10% of delivery to Desert Storm was precision weaponry, and that now over 90% of delivery to Afghanistan is precision weaponry.
     According to Colonel Cook, the Air Force is considered the strongest force on this planet. No nation can challenge the United States Air Force.  He contends that our military leadership is about "preventing" war and has the busiest operating temple since WW II, with one half the people.
     The Air Mobility normally conducts 140 missions per day, but are now conducting 300 missions per day.  He explained that it is the military's mission to take the fight to the terrorist and put them on the offense, rather than let them come here.
     Colonel Cook reminded us that our nation is at war. He encouraged us to thank anyone in uniform, as they are protecting our country and helping us to continue to live in a free society.
Sharon Carney

Board Minutes

There was $1,000.00 not designated for anything from the globe last year. The Board approved it to be used to match Paul Harris fellowships up to $250.00. Each fellowship must be completed over the next three years.

The Board approved for the amount of the Scholarship to SWIC to be increased from $600.00 to $800.00 per student per year. The average cost for one year of tuition at SWIC is $1,000.00, not including books.

The RYLA committee received 20 applications to attend the youth conference and one was chosen.

Michelle Wuller

Holiday Party Pictures (Click on an image to enlarge)