Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama -- On a steamy Saturday in late July, the 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, was officially redesignated as the 908th Flying Training Wing, while its 357th Airlift Squadron inactivated and then reactivated as the 703rd Helicopter Squadron.
The redesignation is another milestone as the 908th switches from a tactical airlift mission flying the C-130 Hercules aircraft to a formal training unit for the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter.
The 908th last converted airframes when it began changing from the C-7A Caribou to the C-130 in February 1982. On Oct. 18, 1983, an aircrew flew the wing’s first tactical training mission, which was also the first formation flight for the 357th Tactical Airlift Squadron in more than a decade before the unit began flying the C-7A.
The wing has been incredibly busy since then-Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett announced that the 908th was the preferred location to host the Grey Wolf formal training unit on Nov. 20, 2020. The 908th conducted its final flights with its last remaining C-130s on April 2, 2022.
Over the last few years, members throughout the wing have been gearing up for the mission change. Aircrew members, maintainers and others had to decide if they were going to stay in the C-130 tactical airlift world and leave the unit, or transition to the rotary wing world and stay at the 908th. For those who decided to stay, there would be months of intense training for the MH-139A, which has a mission of providing security and support for the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields and transporting U.S. government officials and security forces. Other mission capabilities include civil search and rescue, as well as survival school and test support.
In the middle of the wing’s conversion to a new mission, it welcomed a new commander when Col. Christopher Lacouture assumed command of the 908th from Col. Craig Drescher in September of 2023.
Since Lacouture has taken command, the wing had its first MH-139A Grey Wolf arrive on station April 3 of this year and had its first flight take place exactly three weeks later on April 24.
In between those two major events, Lacouture convened a strategic alignment event with wing leaders at Maxwell to establish the 908th Flying Training Wing’s mission, vision and priorities. The new mission statement is to “Deliver lethal combat Airmen to defeat America’s enemies.” The new vision statement is to “Be the dominant wing integrating lethality and readiness to consistently deliver bold, agile and dedicated Airmen supplying superior combat capabilities.” The new priorities are to “Generate lethal readiness, develop Airman warrior ethos, launch the MH-139 Flight Training Unit and streamline/modernize local processes.”
The wing celebrated the MH-139A Grey Wolf and the unit’s efforts for the past three and a half years preparing for the transition during a ceremony May 31 at Maxwell. The event gave wing members, congressional staffers, local civic leaders and senior military members representing three major commands a chance to see the new aircraft and learn about its importance to U.S. national defense.
“To the Airmen of the 908th, sincerely thank you for the jobs well done and thanks in advance for the work you will do in the coming years,” Lacouture said at the ceremony. “With our partners in Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, civilian manufacturers and contractors, by working together to do what is best for the mission, you are building a new capability on the foundation of 40 years of proud and effective service flying combat airlift. We honor the past as we accelerate into the future. We have much to do. Enjoy today, then let’s get back to work building the MH-139A schoolhouse the nation needs.”
(Clark is assigned to the 908th Flying Training Wing public affairs office.)