422nd JTS conducts first change of command ceremony

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE McGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Lt. Col. Wesley Kirk assumed command of the 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron after receiving the squadron's guide-on from Col. Patrick Owens, Expeditionary Operations School commander June 15 in Grace Peterson Hall at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Kirk takes over the two-year old squadron from Lt. Col. Scott Robinson, served at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center as the 422nd JTS' first commander. Robinson's next assignment is with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in Washington, D.C.

"(With the 422nd JTS' first change of command,) we are closing a chapter on a challenging, successful and highly rewarding tenure for Scott Robinson," Owens said. Noting that Robinson worked with 30 total force members - active duty, Air National Guard, civilian and contractor - to create the 422nd JTS, he added "This organization was created with an Air Force mandate with an Air Force level of impact. I know the 'Spartans' did not take that lightly," he said, invoking the nickname for the unit's members.

The 422nd JTS was created in March 2010 as a result of a directive from Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz to establish a focal point for collecting Expeditionary Combat Support lessons learned and codifying tactics, techniques and procedures into tactical-level doctrine in late 2009. The products the 422 'Spartans' have created to date have impacted ECS operations including ongoing efforts in Afghanistan, contingency response, mission planning and other areas across the military spectrum of operations, according to Owens.

Complimenting the TTP development mission, the squadron maintains two flights comprised of expert instructors, the Intelligence Flight and Expeditionary Combat Support Flight, according to 422nd JTS officials. The Intelligence Flight is responsible for managing the Mobility Air Force Intelligence Initial Qualification training course and the Air Force's Force Protection Intelligence Course. In addition to these primary duties, intelligence instruction is provided to 11 other courses within the EC and the Intel Flight provides scenario and oversight for all intelligence activity during every Eagle Flag exercise. The flight has instructed over 400 hours since March 2010 and has awarded over 11,000 Community College of the Air Force credits to graduating students. The Expeditionary Combat Support Flight conducts senior leader and staff courses for those going to an Air Force Forces staff, Air Expeditionary Group staff or Expeditionary Mission Support Group staff. In addition, the flight teaches the Expeditionary Site Survey Process course. In total, the flight educated over 600 senior leaders and staff during the past two years.

The unit has won ten Air Mobility Command and/or Air Force-level awards within its two-year existence, according to Owens.

During his farewell speech, an emotional Robinson recounted his experiences during his tenure as commander and noted the impact his 30 total force professionals had made on his career.

"Prior to taking command of this unit, every former squadron commander I have met has told me to cherish every day you are in command and I can see why," Robinson said. "I am as humbled and honored as I was when I stood here two years ago. I've grown as an officer, but not because of anything I did. It was due to my exposure to the leaders and professionals here at the Center and across JB MDL."

After officially receiving the "Spartan" guide-on from Owens, Kirk thanked the guests in attendance and briefly remarked on his feelings on becoming the first commander to have the command of the squadron passed to him from another since its 2010 creation.
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'I'm honored to be a part of world-class organization," he said, also noting the opportunities he had in his career to learn from commanders before him as well as some fond memories of his past with Robinson at Pope Field, N.C.

Owens had strong praise for Kirk and listed several of his accomplishments to the audience.

"He has accomplished as much as possible at this point in his career," he noted. "He has had an unrelenting, continual ascent throughout his career."

A senior C-130 pilot, Kirk has over 3,300 flight hours as well as a previous tour with the 422nd's sister squadron, the 561st Joint Tactics Squadron of the Air Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. His most recent assignment was the 374th Operations Support Squadron's director of operations at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

As Kirk takes on at the helm of the 422nd JTS and its 30 military and civilian members, Robinson conjured up the Battle of Thermopylae, where 300 Spartan soldiers battled thousands of invading Persians in ancient times, as part of his farewell to his team of professionals.

"There weren't 300 Spartans in the 422nd JTS, but you have performed like there were."