33d MOS inactivates with Air Force reorg

  • Published
  • By Dianne Bitzes
  • 33rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The somber inactivation ceremony for the 33d Maintenance Operations Squadron on June 13 here was one of many such events occurring throughout the Air Force.

Like the recent 96th MOS inactivation, the 33rd MOS retired its colors as the result of a service decision last year to reorganize maintenance support and more efficiently utilize maintenance officers in the service.

Different from other Air Force units, the 33rd MOS changes affected other services collocated in the squadron.

"MOS was a huge part of the success enjoyed by the 33rd Fighter Wing. They were here before the first F-35 Lightning II aircraft arrived and before the first flight was generated," said Navy Captain Lance Massey, 33rd Maintenance Group commander.

Maj. Craig Williams, former 33rd MOS commanding officer, stood at attention as Marine Capt. Mitchell Grey, then 33rd MOS operations officer, called the formation of 35 squadron military personnel to attention for the formal farewell to the unit.

"Without the leadership, dedication, expertise from the various services and global experience of our people, we would not have made the achievements of the past 12 months," said Williams.

As the ceremony's presiding officer, Massey reflected on the unit's distinguished history in his opening remarks to the squadron.

"This relatively small group of folks laid the foundation for maintenance of this unique and innovative F-35 program," said Massey. "These men and women provided the safety piece, training, quality assurance and maintenance operations pieces of a complex, multi-service puzzle."

The unit was the only military maintenance organization to house Airmen, Marines and Sailors in the Department of Defense's first of its kind for the F-35 Program.

"Not only is there a long list of firsts for the 33rd MOS, many personal celebrations were enjoyed as a unit," said Williams who has orders to the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, as a result of the inactivation. "I move on with great satisfaction knowing the wing and group are in great hands."

Air Force maintenance squadrons were directly responsible to the group commander for administration, analysis, training management, programs and resources and any necessary support production efforts. Aircraft maintenance planning, controlling, scheduling and executing responsibilities are met through the actions of an MOS.

"The duties and responsibilities of MOS are key to establishing any unit, even before the jets get on board," Williams said.

During the ceremony, the inactivation orders were read to 33rd FW senior leadership and others in attendance. The 33rd MOS guidon was passed for its final exchange between squadron and group commanders before being encased in a royal blue sleeve.

Although clearly disheartened to see his unit inactivated, most of Williams' tenure as commander was spent preparing for the day. Three months after assuming command, he was told of a future reorganization of maintenance officers and inactivation of MOS units.

Williams likened the situation to that of any superior athlete.

"Air Force calls the play, and it is the commander's job to run with it," he said.

Twenty-nine percent of the squadron started transitioning late last year to other organizations. Most personnel were absorbed into the 33rd MXG staff or the new maintenance operations flight in the group while a few had the opportunity to go to a squadron in their service.

"The joint environment allows individuals to put their service perspective aside and focus on the main mission of aircraft readiness," said Marine Capt. Daniel Emunson, a supply officer who was in charge of the 33rd MOS Joint Integration and Quality Assurance section. "Typically (Marine) supply officers are not embedded with a unit. But the hybrid nature of the F-35 program warranted integrating more Marines with the program. Whether 'Mar(ine)-print' or 'Blue-suiter,' the mission is to get aircraft into the sky, to get steel on target and hopefully we will be doing that with the F-35 in three to five years."

Emunson has orders for a Marine school in Quantico, Va.

"MOS leads the rest was our motto, "said Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Wilber, former 33rd MOS superintendant who now helps lead the unit as a flight in the 33rd MXG. "I guess now we'll have to say, MOS led the best."