Commander sheds light on wing’s future

  • Published
  • By Jasmine DeNamur
  • 919th SOW Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Duke Airmen got a better insight into the future of the 919th Special Operations Wing when the wing commander held a series of commander's calls Oct. 13-19 to inform them of updated news on future mission changes. 

"I received new information earlier this week from higher headquarters," said Col. Steven Chapman, 919th SOW commander. "Everybody needs to understand what we're up against this upcoming year and next five to six years that follow." 

Colonel Chapman presented wing members with a timeline of when upcoming changes were expected to occur. 

There are two phases that define what the wing will face. The first includes the remission of the MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, expected to occur from fiscal year 2008-2010, and during the second phase, scheduled for fiscal year 2011-2012, the retirement of the MC-130E Combat Talon I will occur, he said. 

With plans of going from a four-ship to a two-ship MC-130P Combat Shadow requirement happening soon, Colonel Chapman informed members that they were going to see changes throughout the wing occur very quickly. 

"There's going to be a lot of movement within the wing, and it's going to start with the 5th Special Operations Squadron and 719th Maintenance Squadron," he said. 

The 5th SOS and 719th MXS are not the only squadrons in which manning will be affected. 

The Financial Management office is currently going through a transformation that will affect how military and travel pay is processed, the 711th Special Operations Squadron life support and 919th Maintenance Squadron survival equipment shops are in the process of merging, and the 919th Mission Support Flight and 919th Services Flight are going to merge sometime in the near future, he said. 

Along with squadron transformation and manning changes, wing members can anticipate the possibility of working with different aircraft. 

"We can look forward to positions opening up to help support and maintain MQ-1 Predator, U-28A, and AC-130U Gunship aircraft," he said. "Everyone here has the opportunity to bring a wealth of knowledge to the wing's future mission." 

Though the specific details of the wing's future are unknown, Colonel Chapman assured reservists that as new information arises, he will ensure they know about it as soon as he can get it to them. 

"There's a lot of information that we still don't have," he said. 

"As we move through this process, there are going to be newspaper articles, online blogs and rumors speculating about what's going to happen to the wing. Unless you hear it from me, it's not valid," he added. 

Though it is definite that many changes lie ahead for the wing and its members, a major challenge reservists here will have to overcome is acceptance of change and development of optimism of the many growth opportunities that will come. 

"We still have a mission to do - stay focused and take care of each other. It is my job to keep you as well informed as possible, so you can make a plan for yourself to help adapt to more exciting ventures," said Colonel Chapman. 

"We're going to do the best we can to take care of each other, regardless of what comes our way."