VIEW FROM TOP>>Shifting gears

By Brig. Gen. Rowayne A. Schatz, Jr.
314th Airlift Wing commander

I would like to take the time to welcome Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander, and his wife Leslie to Little Rock AFB. This is General Lorenz’s first trip to the base as AETC commander and he will be touring various facilities around the base to see all the hard work that is going on here day in and day out. I know you will all make him as proud as you make me every single day.

On Wednesday, much of Team Little Rock will be experiencing change during the Host Wing Transfer Ceremony. Maj. Gen. Winfield W. Scott III, 18th Air Force commander, and Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, 19th Air Force commander will, both be in attendance as host base responsibilities are transferred to Air Mobility Command from Air Education and Training Command.

The 314th Airlift Wing, under AETC, has served as the host wing at Little Rock AFB and provided support to both AMC’s 463rd Airlift Group and the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing. AMC will activate the 19th Airlift Wing and continue the tradition of excellence as it assumes base operating support responsibilities including maintenance, mission support and medical services.

During the ceremony, the 314th Airlift Wing will transfer command to Col. Charles Hyde. The 19th Airlift Wing will then stand up and I will assume command. The 463rd Airlift Group will be in-activated and its assets reorganized under the 19th Airlift Wing as the 19th Operations Group. Many of the groups and squadron that currently fall under the 314th Airlift Wing will then be reorganized under the 19th Airlift Wing as Air Mobility Command assets. Even though host base responsibilities will transfer from AETC to AMC, we will still continue to deploy and train the world’s best C-130 Combat Airlifters.

No matter what major command we serve under, the men and women at every level here make the Rock the pride of the Combat Airlift mission. Thanks to all of you for working extra hard to make the transition as smooth as possible. Without you, none of this would be possible!

Combat Airlift!