47th Student Squadron is prepped to take off

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan L. Maysonet
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 47th Student Squadron is slated for activation here in a reactivation and assumption of command ceremony Dec. 2.

Lt. Col. Jason Mills, soon to be commander of the 47th STURON, will be assuming command immediately following the ceremony.

"I'm excited about the opportunity and anxious to get to work," said Mills.

The STURON is an Air Education and Training Command idea that has been in development for more than two years. It is designed to reduce the span of control of the 47th Operations Support Squadron, which will allow them to focus on airfield issues.

"All of the processes, organization structure, etc. will remain unchanged," said Lt. Col. John Binder, 47th OSS commander. "The OSS will now have 750 less people in the squadron and will be able to focus solely on running the airfield."

The new squadron will encompass the student section, which is presently organized under the OSS, and will be composed of a commander, operations officer, assistant director of operations, class commanders, simulator and academic instructors, transition and graduation flights and all student pilots.

"From the student pilot and spouses' perspective, the only thing that will change will be the name of your new commander and the patch you wear on your shoulder," said Binder.

From the beginning, STURON was designed to have zero impact on dollars and manpower, said Mills. Manpower will move from its role in the OSS to the STURON and finances will transfer ownership while training continues as usual.

"The 47th OSS has done a marvelous job to date, but a dedicated squadron can focus solely on the student administrative functions and mission," said Mills. "This also allows the OSS to operate in its traditional role and continue its amazing support of our tremendous flying operation."

The ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. at the T-6 Weather Hanger.

"Like all the organizations on Laughlin, the 47th STURON will strive each and every day to meet and exceed the needs of our student pilot population," said Mills. "In doing so, we will directly support the wing's mission of graduating the world's best pilots as well as developing professional and disciplined leaders."