347th Rescue Wing holds final reorganization

Published 9:03 pm Monday, December 5, 2005

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE — In less than a week, the 347th Rescue Wing at Moody Air Force Base held its second and final reorganization, meeting a directive by the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper.

The 347th Logistics Group was redesignated the 347th Maintenance Group, and it’s part of a structure described as “getting back to the basics.” Col. Kenneth Wiechert received the guidon from Col. Howie Short, vice commander 347th RQW, for the newly designated 347th MXG.

Under the new structure, three squadrons with a similar structure are aligned under Wiechert’s 347th MXG. The 347th Maintenance Operations Squadron is the major supporting agency for all the maintenance functions on base. The Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is the primary source of equipment maintenance for the 347th RQW aircraft. The Maintenance Squadron will handle off-equipment maintenance for all air frames at Moody AFB, including the 479th Flying Training Group, a tenant unit on base.

Short said the reorganization was designed to strengthen the way the wing trains and executes its worldwide mission.

“Military members learn to accept and adapt to change throughout their military careers,” Short said. “Members of Team Moody have been through many changes, especially in the past year, and have adapted remarkably.”

The Air Force set a Sept. 30, 2003, date for all wings in the Air Force to complete the reorganization. The organizational restructuring is scheduled to begin throughout the Air Force on Oct. 1. The 347th RQW has already met that goal, leading the way for the rest of the Air Force.

“This organizational structure is similar to the way we were organized from 1978 to 1991,” Wiechert said. “It’s the organization we had during Desert Storm, and it worked.”

The 347th AMXS commanded by Lt. Col. Brian Babin has two flights that are responsible for maintaining the HH-60G “Pave Hawk” helicopter with the 41st Rescue Squadron, and the HC-130P/E “King” aircraft with the 71st Rescue Squadron. These two aircraft are the workhorses in the 347th Rescue Wing, and Babin’s squadron will ensure they are ready to support its worldwide combat search and rescue mission.

“The reorganization gives us better focus on our primary task,” Babin said. “It’s our job to take the opportunities of this reorganization and exploit them and make them even better.”

Babin then looked at Short and said, “We’re ready, sir.”

The 347th AMXS is now the largest squadron on Moody with over 400 personnel assigned, and Babin is excited about commanding it. The two maintenance units from the 41st and 71st RQS assigned to 347th AMXS have been proven to be the best the world has to offer. Babin expects nothing but excellence from now on.

“This mission is as noble as there is, and these folks are as special as they come,” Babin said.

The first part of the reorganization began Aug. 24, when the 347th Support Group was redesignated as the 347th Mission Support Group.



To contact reporter Rip Prine, please call 244-3400, ext. 237.