86th MOS deactivates, reorganizes into 86th MXG

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Trevor Rhynes
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Ramstein Air Base, Germany --  The 86th Maintenance Operations Squadron recently deactivated in order to meet an Air Force initiative.The 86th MOS became a part of the 86th Maintenance Group's Group Staff Agency. The initiative was enacted in order to ensure equipment and personnel were being utilized efficiently.

The 86th MOS traces its lineage back to Aug. 1, 1941. Over the years the squadron changed from an air base squadron to a logistics support squadron, and finally to the 86th MOS in 2002.

"There is one less squadron at Ramstein, but we will be no less capable in our ability to execute the assigned missions," said Col. Raymond Briggs, 86th Maintenance Group Commander. "The incredibly vital functions performed by the Maintenance Operations Squadron will continue, although in a slightly different manor."

Members of the 86th MOS kept busy over the past few years, ensuring thousands of missions went off without issue.

"The squadron's numbers and statistics over the past 30 months are breathtaking with scheduling and oversight for over 8,000 sorties, 24,000 flight hours," Briggs said. "You've dispatched 164 maintenance recovery teams and provided command and control for over 30,000 maintenance actions."

Most recently, the squadron participated in the evacuation of American citizens from the Middle East.

"We proved that we were true in our resolve as we sprang into action following the Sept. 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya," said Maj. Mark Ashman, 86th MOS commander.

Although the squadron's tenure has ended, the Airmen who made up the squadron won't forget it.

"I realized that we were quite successful because we accomplished our mission of providing garrison and expeditionary support for combat ready Airmen, aircraft and equipment safely, timely and reliably," Ashman said. "The members of the squadron embark as one cohesive unit on a journey forward that will one day graze the pages of the ledger maintained by the 86th Airlift Wing's historian."