Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexander Guerrero | U.S. Air Force Col. David Owens, 317th Airlift Wing commander, hands a guidon to Col....... read more read more
Subscribe
Today Dyess witnessed a historical moment when the 317th Airlift Group was deactivated and then activated as the 317th Airlift Wing.
The 317th AG began its journey during World War II in San Antonio, Texas. It was deactivated in 1942 at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and in 1997 was reactivated here, under Air Mobility Command. Throughout the years, there have been numerous milestones met and many obstacles overcome.
“We completed our transition from the C-130 Hercules models to C-130 Super Hercules and a 3,378 day consecutive period in which we flew U.S. Central Command missions from December 2003 to March 2013,” said Brian Smith, 317th AG historian. “We have also supported many humanitarian missions to include Hurricane Katrina evacuations and Haiti earthquake and flood relief missions. A total of more than 150,000 combat and combat support hours airdropping critical supplies in Afghanistan and moving over 1.5 million passengers within Iraq were completed while maintaining a 98% mission effectiveness rate.”
During their 20 year reign, the 317th AG, which is assigned to 18th Air Force at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., has earned six Meritorious Unit Awards and ten Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. Lt. Gen. Giovanni Tuck, 18th AF commander, presided over today’s ceremony.
The 317th AG’s scope and size warranted designation as an operations wing as it continuously generates and employs C-130J Super Hercules combat power. The resignation will greatly improve leading people, improve the unit and managing resources.
“It is a really big deal that we’re here. The significance of today’s deactivation has been in the works for quite some time, and we had to ask ourselves how can we be more prepared and you need look no further than Dyess Air Force Base and the partnership we have with the 7th Bomb Wing,” Tuck said. This wing is going to be multi-component, multi-functional, it’s going to have the sense of coalition, and it’s standing right now at a time when our nation needs it.”
Today, Col. David Owens took command of the 317th AG before it was deactivated and then activated as the 317th Airlift Wing. At his previous assignment, Owens ensured the combat readiness of approximately 800 authorized personnel, four C-17 Globemaster III airlift squadrons and an operations support squadron to conduct all aspects of C-17 operations to include mission planning, command and control, life support, airfield operations and much more.
“I’m super excited to be a part of Team Dyess today, and I look forward to continuing the teamwork. It’s going to be fantastic,” Owens said. “From the day I found out I was coming here I received phone calls and emails about you. About how awesome the 317th maintenance and ops are. You are the leaders in of the C-130 community.”
Along with the wing activation, two groups were activated. The 317th Operations Group, commanded by Col. James Hackbarth and the 317th Maintenance Group, commanded by Col. William Maxwell Jr. There are nine staff agencies with approximately 1,100 authorized personnel.
With the activation of the 317th AW comes new challenges, but more importantly it’s a new beginning to continue its dedicated partnership with the 7th BW and Abilene community.
“Today we will continue to project rapid global mobility to wherever we are sent around the world. I am humbled to be a part of you and I am honored to be your wing commander,” Owens said. “The Owens family looks forward to serving with you and for you.”
| Date Taken: | 07.06.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2017 17:09 |
| Story ID: | 241897 |
| Location: | ABILENE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 317th Airlift Wing activation: Another historic milestone, by SrA Shannon Hall, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
