Volant Scorpion
Staff Sgt. James Bradsher demonstrates the use of a Soviet-made RPG-7 portable rocket launcher during exercise Volant Scorpion. Photo courtesy of Thomas Mackey
TSgt Mackey's Defender Certificate from Volant Scorpion Photo courtesy of Thomas Mackey
|
The 1314th Ground Combat Readiness Exercise Evaluation Squadron (GCRES) was activated on 1 Aug 1984. The Commander was Capt Lawrence R. Lane, and the Operations Officer was Capt Charles W. Morris. MSgt Kenneth W. MacLeod was Superintendent and Administration support was provided by TSgt Frank Griffin. The Cadre was divided into two squads.
SQUAD #1 SQUAD #2 TSgt Paul Worthy TSgt Donald Crawford TSgt David Broadaway TSgt Dicky Johnson TSgt David McDaniels TSgt Paul Harris SSgt Michael Calhoun SSgt Jim Bradsher Sgt John Fields Sgt Gregory Dyer SrA Clay Kirk The 1314 GCRES quickly increased from 15 persons to 61 personnel, consisting of Security Police, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, Independent Medical Technicians, Mobile Aerial Port Squadron, Readiness In Base Services, Vehicle Maintenance, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Personnel Specialists, Aerial Audio Visual Services, and Vehicle Mechanics. The GCRES also deployed for real world situations to Operation URGENT FURY, Sicily, and Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Major deployment exercises have been made to Lajes Field, Azores, Rhein Main AB, Germany, and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. In August 1987, Capt Dale Hewitt became the second squadron commander replacing Major Lawrence Lane. In June 1990, Major Hewitt was replaced as squadron commander by Major John Short. Such dignitaries as Senators Barry Goldwater, J. Wilbur Fulbright, Congressman Les Aspin, Generals H. T. Johnson, Larry Welch, Duane Cassidy, and Thomas Ryan visited the Squadron. The GCRES area grew from a pole barn, tents with wood floors and dug out latrines to a self sustaining base on a base with wooden hootches that are panelled and have air conditioning, a class room with central heat and air, cadre building, supply, motor pool, medical clinic, armory and dining facility. Their resources tripled from a few M-151 Jeeps to over 50 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles, 4 2 1/2 ton trucks, and 40 Carrier Light Auxiliary Weapons Systems. On June 1st 1992, the nickname "VOLANT SCORPION" was replaced with "PHOENIX ACE” since all Military Airlift Command programs changed to reflect a new command rising from the ashes of “Air Mobility Command.” Located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., the program became a part of the Air Mobility Warfare Center on May 1, 1994. The Center, which was officially renamed the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center on March 4, 2007, is the Air Force's leader in expeditionary training offering more than 90 courses. Courses at the Expeditionary Center include the Combat Airman Skills Training course, Air Force Exercise Eagle Flag, Air Force Phoenix Warrior and Phoenix Raven Training Courses, Advanced Study of Air Mobility, Aerial Port Operations Course and more. Civic tours from as far away as Washington D.C. and Phoenix, AZ have toured the facilities. The local community has been exposed to the weapons displays set up at the Little Rock AFB Open House and the McCain Mall in North Little Rock. Legacy The USAF Expeditionary Operations School is the Air Force Expeditionary Combat Support Center of Excellence dedicated to educate, train and exercise expeditionary combat support personnel in deployed operations. The EOS is responsible for developing and conducting Air Force Exercise Eagle Flag and the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course. EOS includes a resources and plans section, and has operational control of the 421st Combat Training Squadron. AMWC’s 421st Training Squadron (TS) took on the mission of the 314th Ground Combat Readiness Evaluation Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR. The 421st TS was redesignated 421st Ground Combat Readiness Squadron on 1 December 1997. (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... f/amwc.htm). The Center operated the Phoenix Raven course for Security Forces and the Phoenix Readiness course that trained more than 20 Air Force specialties in expeditionary combat support. The Center has now grown to be the Air Force's leader in expeditionary training. http://www.amc.af.mil/library/factsheet ... sp?id=7593[/url] |
List of Volant Scorpion Cadre and support personnel
| volant_scorpion_cadre.doc |
