LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. (AFPN) -- Officials from the 19th Airlift Wing will accept operational control of Little Rock Air Force Base Oct. 1 from 314th AW officials to become the base's host wing here. The 19th AW is an Air Mobility Command wing and the 314th AW is an Air Education and Training Command wing. With an AMC wing taking command, the focus of the base shifts from training to combat.
According to Air Force senior leaders, an AMC airlift wing at Little Rock AFB was in the best interest of the Air Force to meet today's mission requirements. As a result, a series of realignment actions on base and numerous aircraft and unit realignments took place, considerably shifting the wing's mission focus from student training to mobility employment.
While serving as Little Rock AFB's host wing, the 314th AW supported both AMC's 463rd Airlift Group and the Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing. As AMC officials activate the 19th AW, it will inherit the mission and tradition of excellence of the 314th Airlift Wing including base operating support responsibilities such as maintenance, medical services and mission support.
The 19th AW dates back to 1927 when the U.S. Army Air Corps created the unit as the 19th Observation Group.
AMC's mission is to deliver maximum war-fighting and humanitarian effects for America through rapid and precise global air mobility.
The 314th AW will become the tenant wing and continue to train C-130 Hercules aircrews.
Brig. Gen. Rowayne A. Schatz, Jr. will assume command of the 19th AW as Col. Charles K. Hyde assumes command of the 314th AW. Col. James Johnson will be the 19th AW vice commander while Col. Mark Vlahos will remain 314th AW vice commander. Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley will become the 19th AW command chief and Chief Master Sgt. Richard Turcotte, Jr. will be the new command chief for the 314th AW.
The change of command ceremony will take place Oct. 1at 10 a.m., hosted by Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, 19th Air Force commander at Randolph AFB, Texas, followed by the activation ceremony for the 19th AW and assumption of command by Brig. Gen. Schatz, hosted by Maj. Gen. Winfield W. Scott III, 18th Air Force commander at Scott AFB, Ill.
