3rd Maintenance Operations Squadron Inactivates

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tammie Ramsouer
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The 3rd Wing inactivated the 3rd Maintenance Operation Squadron in a ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Monday.

The 3rd MOS' mission was to keep personnel and equipment at a high state of readiness for worldwide deployments. They maintained and launched numerous aircraft supporting the wing's training, air superiority, interdiction, airlift, and airborne control combat missions.

With the inactivation, the unit is now designated the 3rd Maintenance Operations Flight. None of the 170 personnel departed during the transition from squadron to flight.

"We could not inactivate the functions the 3rd MOS performs," said Air Force Col. David Stimac, 3rd Wing maintenance group commander, who presided over the ceremony. "We could not operate without the amazing expertise and support it provides our 3rd Wing Maintainers."

The ceremony was highlighted by Stimac and Air Force Maj. Joseph Schmidt, former 3rd MOS commander, rolling 3rd MOS flag and storing it into a ceremonial flag case. Schmidt retired following the inactivation after 23 years of service. Douglas Beckstead, 673d Air Base Wing Historian, said the squadron flag is sent to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, for safe keeping.

The squadron has had a long history in the Air Force dating back to World War II in 1942 in the Army Air Corps, Stimac said. It was an Air Drone Squadron working with a limited number of personnel running an air base. Stimac said the squadron came to JBER in 1991 as part of the activation of the 3rd Wing.

As one of five squadrons providing critical support to everyone in the 3rd Wing, the 3rd MOS was the smallest of them. The 170 members will continue providing training for all 1,700 maintainers in the 3rd Wing.