22nd MOS inactivates

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Victor J. Caputo
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Maj. Dale Willilquette, 22nd Maintenance Operations Squadron commander, marked the inactivation of his squadron by relinquishing command and furling the unit guidon June 19, 2013.

The squadron was inactivated in response to an Air Force-wide decision to realign field-grade officer manning in the maintenance career field.

"From July 1991 until today, the maintenance operations squadron, formerly the 22nd Logistics Support Squadron, served nobly and honorably," said Col. Eric Faison, 22nd Maintenance Group commander. "Today's restructure is to focus on a near-term solution to increase the level of experience amongst our officer maintenance corps."

The 22nd MOS served as the focal point for all facility management, aircraft maintenance training, scheduling and analysis for the 22nd MXG.

Williquette spoke about how the support he received during his command, ranging from wing leadership to his squadron's honorary commander, was a driving force behind the 22nd MOS's ability to accomplish its mission.

"As any commander will tell you, they do not run the squadron," he said. "It's the men and women they work with that make the squadron run. This is especially true for the men and women of the 22nd MOS who have consistently outshined all of my expectations since day one."

The 22nd MOS traces its roots back to World War II when it was activated as the 22nd Station Compliment Squadron in 1943. The unit moved across the U.S. and Europe and was formally inactivated after the conclusion of the war.

It was reactivated in August 1991 as the 22nd LSS during a restructuring of Air Force maintenance operations under the various logistics groups. The 22nd Air Refueling Wing relocated from California to McConnell AFB in 1994, bringing the 22nd LSS with it.

The squadron was re-designated the 22nd MOS in October 2001, and has since won three meritorious unit awards.

The Airmen and mission of the 22nd MOS will be transferred to the 22nd MXG staff as maintenance operations.

"We pause to document the rich legacy of [the 22nd MOS's] past, reflect on your accomplishments and highlight your promising future," said Faison. "A future that will ensure that the 22nd MXG continues to produce professional maintenance warriors and uphold our ethos of precision maintenance."