C-17 named for JBLM

McChord plane honored in ceremony

By J.M. Simpson on July 6, 2017

Under sunny, blue skies yesterday afternoon on Delta Ramp at McChord Field, a C-17 was named "The Spirit of Joint Base Lewis-McChord" during a ceremony.

About 100 individuals to include Joint Base Lewis-McChord personnel and local civic leaders attended the naming event.

"The naming of one of our McChord C-17s ... represents what is great about our nation's military," wrote Col. Daniel Morgan, JBLM's Garrison Commander, in an email.

"It is a team of teams across a highly capable joint war fighting force."

The aircraft's tail number, 100220, bears significance to the day's events.

"It is the last plane we've received," explained Col. Leonard Kosinski, 62nd Airlift Wing Commander.

"It's the first to be named in recognizing our parternship."

The wing is the active duty Air Force component on McChord Field.  Along with its 446th Reserve Airlift Wing, the two units fly 48 permanently assigned C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to provide combat airlift.

"The new ‘Sprit of JBLM' C-17 is an indicator of our vast global airlift capability that can move strategic land power anywhere, anytime across the globe," continued Morgan.

"We are symbolically recognizing our joint partnership," added Kosinski.

Directed by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base merged on October 1, 2010.

Twenty-six stateside military facilities consolidated into a dozen joint bases.

The rationale for this was to better support war fighting missions and streamline base operations.

"JBLM is exceptionally unique to the Department of Defense," concluded Morgan.

"And as I prepare to depart command, I am very proud and humbled to have been part of this great team."