SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- The 82nd Training Support Squadron was reactivated following the inactivation of the 982nd Maintenance Squadron July 13, 2023 in a ceremony here.
Brig. Gen. George Dietrich III and Col. Terry Koester presided over the unique two-part ceremony during which Maj. Devin Taber relinquished command of the 982d MXS and Maj. W. Frank Larkins Jr. assumed command of the 82d TRSS.
This organizational change, which also merges the 82d Training Wing Technical Training Office with the 82d TRSS, puts the squadron directly under the Wing Commander instead of embedded within a training group, providing a single focal point for wing technical training support issues and improved agility to respond to changing training demands.
Although the change began a year ago, outgoing commander Taber recognized the need for restructuring three years ago when he took command of the 982d MXS as neither the name nor the place in the chain of command accurately reflected the mission.
“The nature of it was challenging for my squadron,” he said. “Our trainer development section designs, engineers, and fabricates new trainers. We also do trainer sustainment for the trainers that are on contract from aircraft manufacturers, and we also oversee the contractors who maintain the 6,000 plus items on the 82nd side of the base. So, all of these functions are shared across the entire wing.”
During the ceremony, Dietrich acknowledged that the organizational transformation would not have been possible without Taber’s commitment to forming a more innovative, responsive, and effective training squadron. He further credited Taber for laying the foundation for the future success of the 82d TRSS.
“As we move forward, we will realize the synergy and the huge return on investment we get from this organization and the value it will provide to the entire training wing,” Dietrich said.
Dietrich described Larkins, who was once an Airman in Training at Sheppard, as the perfect person for the job because his career is as diversified as the squadron he now commands.
Larkins is ready for the challenge of commanding the 82d TRSS. After thanking the former 982d MXS and Technical Training Office for the work that led to this moment, he looked to the future.
“Thank you for all the work you will do to sustain our squadron’s effectiveness and delivering excellence to the fight,” he said. “With great expectations, I look forward to shaping a culture of trust that will inspire and sustain our enthusiasm in feeding the fight; that is relentlessly enabling the development of our Airmen to their full potential, most relevant, and sure selves, in their effort in defending our nation’s freedom. The team that feeds together will do and can do all things better together. So with that I say ‘squadron, let’s feed the fight.’”