716th MXS says goodbye Duke Field

  • Published
  • By Dylan Laurie
  • 16th SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  The 716th Maintenance Squadron will stand down in a ceremony today at 9 a.m. in the fuel cell hangar at Duke Field.

The 716th MXS, which previously supported the 8th Special Operations Squadron by providing maintenance to the MC-130E Combat Talon I, will inactivate since the 8th SOS transitioned to the CV-22 Osprey at a ceremony here Aug. 10. Because the 716th MXS doesn't have an active-duty flying squadron to support at Duke Field, personnel were moved to support other flying units, according to Capt. Bernabe Whitfield, 16th Helicopter Maintenance Squadron maintenance operations officer.

"All personnel have al-ready moved from the 716th MXS, but a formation will report back to Duke Field to participate in the ceremony," Captain Whitfield said.

This includes Lt. Col. Joseph Rushlau, 716th MXS commander, who will also return to Duke Field from his current base of assignment at Edwards Air Force Base, to take part in the ceremony.

The unit has a history of short-term operations. In 1945, it was constituted as the 716th Air Material Squadron on April 4, and activated on May 22, and then inactivated December 31. The squadron was disbanded on Oct. 8, 1948. In 2000, it was again reconstituted and redesignated as the 716th Maintenance Squadron on Feb. 1 and activated on Feb. 5.

Of the approximately 220 total active-duty Airmen assigned to the 716th MXS, 173 people were re-assigned, according to Captain Whit-field. All the equipment and buildings directly associated with the 716th MXS belong to Air Force Reserve Command's, 919th Special Operations Wing.

The squadron will go out in style.

The 716th MXS won the Air Force Special Operations Command Maintenance Effectiveness Award for 2005 for providing extraordinary maintenance world-wide on special operations aircraft.