366th MOS deactivates

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heather Hayward
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The 366th Maintenance Operation Squadron was deactivated after a ceremony at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 13.

MOSs Air Force-wide are scheduled to be inactivated by the end of the fiscal year in an effort to better align field and company grade officer positions with operational requirements.

"This inactivation is a result of a decision made by our senior leaders almost a year ago to correct a long standing imbalance in the ratio of field grade officers to company grade officers in the maintenance officer career field," said Col. James McClellan, 366th Maintenance Group commander. "If not corrected, this imbalance would prove to make the maintenance officer career field unsustainable in future years as the demand for senior officers would not be met."

The 366th MOS provided staff support to the 366th Maintenance Group while supporting F-15E Strike Eagle operations. MOS members developed plans while implementing programs for deployments, contingencies and wartime taskings.

"This has not deterred this group," McClellan said. "It was clear to me last Friday during the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness day events - this has not put us out of use, made us inert or inactive."

There are 150 Airmen who will be restructured under different leadership and a different office symbol.

"The squadron lost an official commander position, but it really only affects me by my office symbol changing," said Capt. Joshua Walton, 366th Maintenance Operations Squadron maintenance operations officer. "My everyday roles and responsibilities have stayed the same."

During the ceremony, the guidon flag is furled symbolizing the squadron will now only exist in the history books.

Airmen from the 366th MOS will essentially be doing the same tasks as before, but will fall under a different squadron and leadership.

"Inactivation may be the exact right word for the ceremony but it clearly is the wrong word for our coyotes," McClellan said. "We are active, dynamic, vital and industrious."