EC tactics squadron activated to support deploying Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Zachary Wilson
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - A new era in the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center officially began with several simple words and a ceremonious unveiling of squadron colors March 26 here.

Lt. Col. Scott Robinson became the first commander of the Center's newest unit, the 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron. In a ceremony attended by hundreds at the Expeditionary Center's Grace Peterson Hall, Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux activated the unit and Lt. Col. Robinson received the new unit's guidon from the Expeditionary Operations School Commandant, Colonel Mark Ellis.

"This is a historic day for the Expeditionary Center and our Air Force," General Devereaux said. "We're standing up a tactics squadron that will be the key information exchange point for all Expeditionary Combat Support tactics, techniques, and procedures."

Other honored guests at the ceremony included the mayor of Florence, N.J. and honorary Expeditionary Operations School honorary commander, Mr. William Barry as well as the president of the Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Kristi Howell-Ikeda. Also attending from the Pentagon were Brig. Gen. Michael Kingsley, military deputy director, Air Force studies and analyses, assessments and lessons learned, Headquarters U.S. Air Force as well as Col. Scott Dennis, deputy director of air operations for the Air Force deputy chief of staff, operations, plans and requirements.
Prior to the ceremony March 26, the squadron was known as the Expeditionary Combat Support Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Division, according to Expeditionary Center officials. The squadron will fall under the Expeditionary Center's Expeditionary Operations School with its sister squadron, the 421st Combat Training Squadron.

"Our squadron was born from the Air Force chief of staff-approved charter to gather refine, disseminate and be the central repository for expeditionary combat support lessons learned and TTPs. This squadron will ultimately enable Airmen to receive the most current training and timely updates to TTPs prior to deploying. It is all about effectively reacting to the changing environment in the combat zone," said Colonel Robinson, who previously served as a C-130 aviator at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. "Development of the TTP division into the 422nd JTS provides medium so combat Airmen get the latest TTPs before they even get on the ground. This not only helps save lives, it eliminates the need for additional training-in theater. It is really a force multiplier."

The 422nd JTS is the first of its kind within the Air Force regarding ground combat. However, according to the former division's director, there was an existing model to look to in the creation of the squadron.

"The flying community has an established capability to gather and disseminate flying TTPs for aviators in the form of the 561st Joint Tactics Squadron (at the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center) at Nellis AFB, Nev.," said Lt. Col. Col. Ralph Muli, who served as the section's chief prior to the stand-up of the squadron. "This will give the expeditionary combat support community a parallel squadron which will be the focal point for all ECS TTPs."

Colonel Muli noted the mission of training will continue while the squadron now will also direct the process for how tactics are collected and disseminated to deployed Airmen. The partnerships the squadron will form include the Headquarters Air Force staff, Major Command Directorates of Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned (A9), Regional Training Centers and Component Numbered Air Force organizations as well as sister services' Lessons Learned Centers. By working with sister services, the squadron will be able to meet its "joint" billing.

"Saving lives is the bottom line," Colonel Robinson noted. "The fact that the tactics division has been transformed into a squadron really designates the importance of the hard work the people working here have been doing. Folks here have done hard work and have the right vector."

The General agreed.

"Expeditionary Combat Support Airmen everywhere should be cheering today. The dedicated men and women of the 422nd will work tirelessly to ensure that life-saving, accurate, and updated TTPs are in the hands of every deploying Airman."