414th MXS stands up

Published May 31, 2011
By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- A new squadron officially stood up and a new commander took the reins during a ceremony here May 26.

Maj. Lydia Black assumed command of the new 414th Maintenance Squadron after Col. Keith Acree, 414th Fighter Group commander, ceremoniously unfurled the squadron guidon.

"The unfurling of a unit's guidon is a rare event that many of us have never been a part of before," Major Black said. "I certainly have not and I am awed at the opportunity to witness the stand up of this brand new unit and humbled to be named its first commander. History has indeed happened here today right in front of us."

The 414th MXS is one of two squadrons under the new 414th FG, a reserve classic association that will increase the combat capability by flying and maintaining the F-15E Strike Eagles here and the F-16CJ Fighting Falcons at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., with the 307th Fighter Squadron, according to Lt. Col. Eric Ostendorf, 414th FG deputy commander. The unit members are under operational control of the respective active duty wing, but do not "own" any of the aircraft they fly and maintain.

The new squadron is fully integrated with the 333rd Aircraft Maintenance Unit and its members will soon work alongside Airmen within the 334th, 335th and 336th AMUs, Major Black said. "We have the exact same mission, our maintainers do the exact same thing that the 4th MXS maintainers do, the only difference is that we are Reservists."

The group and squadrons will have a combined force of 279 Airmen by 2014 that consists of Air Reserve Technicians, who are fulltime civilians during the week who also perform their military commitment one weekend a month and 15 days a year, and traditional Reservists who report for duty one weekend a month and 15 days a year.

"(The group and squadrons stood up) as part of the U.S. Air Force's Total Force Integration program, leveraging core competencies of the (Air National) Guard and (Air Force) Reserve in response to today's manpower, operations tempo and fiscal challenges," Colonel Ostendorf said. "This provides a means to retain the skill and experience of Air Force members who want to pursue a civilian career while continuing to serve. The goal is a more efficient, more combat capable, total force enterprise."

The activation ceremony for the 414th FG is scheduled for Aug. 5.