Wing moves under ACC April 3

  • Published
  • By Capt. Gary Arasin
  • 347th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The 347th Rescue Wing took additional steps this week to prepare the wing to move under Air Combat Command’s administrative control Monday. 

ACC will have specified administrative control over the wing in as many areas as possible, said Col. Kenn Todorov, 347th RQW director of staff. 

“We know there are lots of questions people still have on this move, and we are working to do this in a logical manner,” he said. 

Wing leadership and functional work area managers head to Langley Air Force Base, Va., Wednesday to iron out many of the “wrinkles” of the move. They will develop answers for questions and issues arising as the wing moves further along in the process. However, many of the obvious changes already happened or are under way. 

“In many of our show places, we should look like an ACC base Monday,” said Colonel Todorov. “The mission support group tackled some of the most visible areas, such as the command shield on the control tower. We know some of the back shops are going to take a little longer, but our folks are doing a great job of getting us along the way.” 

While Monday is the key date for administrative control change, Colonel Todorov said part of the directive is “as it makes sense.” This notion applies to functions such as those involving money, which will remain under control of Air Force Special Operations Command until the end of the fiscal year. 

The 347th Contracting Squadron developed a plan for all wing members to have ACC patches sewn on their battle dress uniforms. Wing members are authorized to have four sets done at no cost to the members. 

“With as many people as we have in the wing, we know this will take a while,” Colonel Todorov said. “We are not going to have someone at the gate checking to see if people have their patches on Monday, but we want people to make a concerted effort do this in a timely manner.” 

The Air Force Chief of Staff announced the plan last month to move the combat search and rescue mission back to ACC, a little less than three years after the mission moved to AFSOC. Designed to create several advantages for the Air Force, the plan also creates bonuses for the combatant commanders as well. 

“Among other things, this move allows Northern Command faster access in the event of national crisis like Hurricane Katrina and Rita,” said Col. Joe Callahan, 347th RQW commander. “This move will ensure our CSAR assets are integrated into all the joint advanced composite force training we do - especially Red Flag.”