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ANG Det. 12 comes to Air University

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  In a ceremony at Officer Training School, Detachment 12, Air National Guard Readiness Center, was activated, and Lt. Col. Ronald Daniels took command of the new unit Oct. 2.

Formerly the Academy of Military Sciences at McGhee Tyson ANG Base, Tenn., Detachment 12 opened its doors to its first class O-2010-1 Monday.

Air University commander Lt. Gen. Allen Peck opened the remarks by telling an audience of distinguished visitors, military members, civilians and family members that beginning Monday, all ANG and Air Force Reserve officer training is taking place at Maxwell-Gunter.

"To paraphrase Yogi Berra who said, 'I want to thank all those who have made this day necessary,' I want to thank all those who made this day possible," he said. "It took the tireless work of many to bring this together and complete the final leg of the ANG/AFR training program. And, it makes sense. We fight together and we should train together."

Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander, followed General Peck's remarks saying this was a "big day" for both the Air National Guard and Air University.

"It took three-and-a-half years to get here, and it is pretty much an emotional event," he said. "AMS has been, is and will be a great school, and the school at McGhee Tyson has done some wonderful things."

The general said when Air Force members, "go through the crucible together," they grow as a team and remember their teammates, and the move to Maxwell is, "a journey of creating and continuing a tradition," that should make everyone excited about the future of ANG training.

"You get to build something, and that is exciting," General Lorenz told the staff of Detachment 12. "You will have your challenges, but it is going to be fun and exhilarating to do this."

Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said for AMS, the event was "a bittersweet moment," and he appreciated General Lorenz attending the activation.

"For you to be here, General Lorenz, shows how much we have grown together," he said. "We have a lot to do to make this the finest training experience in the military, and we are opening a new chapter in McGhee Tyson training."

General McKinley said the idea to move AMS to Air University came about four years ago at a CORONA when Gen. T. Michael Moseley, then Air Force Chief of Staff, asked why there were two separate training facilities.

"We realized there is no reason why we shouldn't train together, learn together and grow together," he told the audience. "It took three-and-a-half years for us to say that this move is right for this time in history, and we boldly strike out today. You are a part of a very historical event."

The final speaker for the ceremony was Colonel Daniels, and he told those in attendance he recognized he was following three very accomplished speakers.

"It would be silly of me to give you a rousing speech to share my wisdom after these three gentlemen, so I won't do that," he joked with the audience. "I remember something General Lorenz said during another speech, and that was to always be sure you know your boss's, boss's desires. We understand what the boss wants, so we have put together a team to come to Maxwell to take care of that desire."

Colonel Daniel said that team is a group of "very hard working" individuals who are focused on the task they have at hand.

"I can tell you today that we are here today and we are ready," he said. "We have 126 students coming in Monday. We will train them, and we will not falter."

Col. Michael McDonald, commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., was also in attendance, and said he will act as a liaison for Detachment 12 to Air Force leadership to help the school with any problems or issues that arise. He said the administrative functions of Detachment 12 will fall under his organization, while the day-to-day operational aspect will fall under Brig. Gen. Teresa Djuric, commander of Air University's Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development.

"I was commissioned through the Air Force Academy, but I work every day next to people who were commissioned through AMS, and I can't tell the difference," he said. "You shouldn't be able to tell any difference, and if everyone is trained the same, there won't be any difference."

The Officer Preparatory Academy opened its doors at McGhee Tyson on April 12, 1971, and was renamed the Academy of Military Sciences on Feb. 26, 1973.

Since opening, the school has provided pre-commissioning training to more than 14,500 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve officers. With the graduation of class O-2009-4, AMS said farewell to McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee.