SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) -- Air Mobility Command has the largest fleet of the biggest airframes in the Air Force and they are the Department of Defense's largest aviation fuel customer, consuming 28 percent of DOD's aviation fuel use, but AMC Airmen are leading the charge in making energy a consideration in everything they do. 

During the third annual Air Force Energy Forum in May, Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton stressed the importance of being efficient while being effective.

"With the need to deliver fuel, supplies and warfighting capabilities to remote, austere and landlocked places like Afghanistan, reducing the amount of energy our force requires becomes even more important," Ms. Conaton said. 

"By its very nature, the AMC mission requires a lot of fuel," said Maj. Gen. Brooks L. Bash, the AMC director of operations. "This command provides the strategic airlift, aeromedical evacuation and air refueling to support the warfighter, and we do this while also ensuring we're able to provide aid and support for humanitarian operations whenever disaster strikes."

AMC aircraft fly 66 percent of the missions flown in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. Since 9/11, AMC's airlifters have delivered more than 5 million tons of cargo and 14 million passengers; refuelers have offloaded 11 billion pounds of fuel; and aeromedical evacuation experts have conducted more than 151,000 patient movements. 

And they're working around the clock to find ways to become more efficient.

As of June 8, Mobility Air Forces officials have implemented 11 fuel efficiency initiatives with projected yearly fuel consumption reductions of 65.3 million gallons at a cost avoidance of $184.1 million. 

Twelve additional initiatives have been identified, and once implemented, the command will reduce fuel consumption by an additional 51.1 million gallons at a cost avoidance of $144.1 million, for a total yearly reduction of 116.4 million gallons at a cost avoidance of $328.2 million. (Note: The dollar figures are based on the current price of $2.82 per gallon for JP-8 fuel.)

Initiatives already in place include reducing aircraft weight of non-mission essential items and working with foreign countries to fly more fuel efficient routes. 

"(These are all) smart, simple, effective ways to conserve energy," Ms. Conaton said. 

In the last fiscal year, the Air Force spent nearly $8.5 billion on fuel, mostly for aircraft.

"Every dollar we spend on energy is one less dollar that we have to spend on Airmen, their readiness and their weapon systems," Ms. Conaton said. "All of us in government are charged with being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. We need to be able to demonstrate to ourselves, to Congress and to the American people that our energy dollars are being spent in the most effective manner possible."

"AMC will endeavor to reduce our demand for energy by enabling the creativity and good ideas of all Airmen," General Bash said. "We are embracing the Air Force's motto to make energy conservation a consideration in all we do."

"I applaud the AMC Airmen for providing a critical capability to the joint effort while pursuing creative methods to boost fuel efficiency," Ms. Conaton said.