WEBVTT 00:02.339 --> 00:04.561 Good morning ladies and gentlemen , and 00:04.561 --> 00:06.395 welcome to the 595th Command and 00:06.395 --> 00:08.395 Control Group inactivation National 00:08.395 --> 00:10.450 Airborne Operations Center Change of 00:10.450 --> 00:12.617 command and the 95th Wing Activation . 00:12.729 --> 00:14.896 I'm Staff Sergeant Anita Watkins , and 00:14.896 --> 00:16.896 I will be your narrator for today's 00:16.896 --> 00:18.951 event . We are honored to have Major 00:18.951 --> 00:21.062 General Jason Armagas , commander , 8 00:21.062 --> 00:22.951 Air Force and Joint Global Strike 00:22.951 --> 00:25.007 Operations Center , as our presiding 00:25.007 --> 00:27.007 officer today as we honor the 595th 00:27.007 --> 00:28.840 Command and Control Group on its 00:28.840 --> 00:30.940 occasion of inactivation . Colonel 00:30.940 --> 00:32.940 Patrick Hook on the occasion of his 00:32.940 --> 00:34.773 relinquishment of command of the 00:34.773 --> 00:36.884 National Airborne Operations Center , 00:36.884 --> 00:38.773 and Colonel David Lamont upon his 00:38.773 --> 00:40.718 assumption of command of the newly 00:40.718 --> 00:42.773 activated 95th Wing and the National 00:42.773 --> 00:44.940 Airborne Operations Center . And Chief 00:44.940 --> 00:47.107 Master Sergeant Michael Moore upon his 00:47.107 --> 00:46.529 assumption of responsibility of the 00:46.529 --> 00:49.360 ninety-fifth wing . At this time , I 00:49.360 --> 00:51.527 would like to extend a special welcome 00:51.527 --> 00:53.749 to the families of the official party . 00:53.939 --> 00:56.050 Colonel Lamont's spouse , Mrs . Wendy 00:56.050 --> 00:57.050 Lamont . 01:03.330 --> 01:05.274 Chief Moore's spouse , Mrs . Carol 01:05.274 --> 01:07.330 Moore and his children , Caitlin and 01:07.330 --> 01:07.279 Connor . 01:13.949 --> 01:16.282 Colonel Hook's spouse , Mrs . Lisa Hook . 01:22.430 --> 01:24.541 Additionally , we are very pleased to 01:24.541 --> 01:26.652 have numerous distinguished guests in 01:26.652 --> 01:28.708 attendance with us today . We kindly 01:28.708 --> 01:30.763 ask that you hold all applause until 01:30.763 --> 01:32.708 all distinguished guests have been 01:32.708 --> 01:34.930 recognized . The Honorable Deb Fisher , 01:34.930 --> 01:37.041 United States Senator from Nebraska . 01:37.041 --> 01:39.097 The Honorable Pete Ricketts , United 01:39.097 --> 01:41.349 States senator from Nebraska . The 01:41.349 --> 01:43.405 Honorable Don Bacon , representative 01:43.405 --> 01:46.139 from Nebraska . The Honorable Rusty 01:46.139 --> 01:48.339 Hike , Mayor of Bellevue , Nebraska . 01:49.489 --> 01:51.569 The Honorable Don Grosser , Mayor of 01:51.569 --> 01:54.860 Ralston , Nebraska . The Honorable Paul 01:54.860 --> 01:56.693 Lambert , Mayor of Plattsmouth , 01:56.693 --> 01:59.709 Nebraska . The Honorable Douglas Sheer , 02:00.190 --> 02:04.129 Mayor of Malvern , Iowa . Major General 02:04.139 --> 02:06.250 Christopher Eubank , Chief of Staff , 02:06.290 --> 02:08.179 United States Strategic Command . 02:10.100 --> 02:12.322 Master Gunnery Sergeant Charles Baker , 02:12.360 --> 02:14.471 Commandant of United States Strategic 02:14.471 --> 02:18.360 Command . Major General Brandon Parker , 02:18.550 --> 02:21.029 J3 Director , United States Strategic 02:21.029 --> 02:24.350 Command . Major 02:24.350 --> 02:27.470 General Regina Sari , Commander , 10th 02:27.470 --> 02:31.289 Air Force . Major General Craig Strong , 02:31.479 --> 02:33.600 adjutant General , Nebraska National 02:33.600 --> 02:37.059 Guard . Brigadier General Michelle 02:37.059 --> 02:39.100 Mulberry , Director of Joint Staff 02:39.100 --> 02:42.910 Wyoming National Guard . Brigadier 02:42.910 --> 02:45.339 General Paul Cohen , United States Air 02:45.339 --> 02:49.029 Force retired . Colonel Mark Howard , 02:49.139 --> 02:52.949 Commander , 55th Wing . Chief Master 02:52.949 --> 02:55.429 Sergeant Andrew Small , Command Chief , 02:55.669 --> 02:58.429 fifty-fifth wing . And finally , we are 02:58.429 --> 03:00.540 joined by members of the ninety-fifth 03:00.540 --> 03:02.762 Bomb Group , Pey Memorials Foundation . 03:15.990 --> 03:17.990 We would also like to extend a warm 03:17.990 --> 03:20.046 welcome to all commanders , chiefs , 03:20.046 --> 03:22.101 first sergeants , friends , civilian 03:22.101 --> 03:24.323 leaders , and the men and women of Team 03:24.323 --> 03:26.212 Offit that are joining us today . 03:33.919 --> 03:36.141 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 03:36.141 --> 03:38.252 the arrival of the official party and 03:38.252 --> 03:40.363 remain standing for the honors of the 03:40.363 --> 03:40.360 8th Air Force Commander , the 03:40.360 --> 03:42.249 presentation of the colors of the 03:42.249 --> 03:44.360 United States Strategic Command Joint 03:44.360 --> 03:46.416 Service Color Guard , the singing of 03:46.416 --> 03:48.582 the national anthem by Master Sergeant 03:48.582 --> 03:48.080 Rachel Wilson from the United States 03:48.080 --> 03:50.191 Air Force Heartland of America band , 03:50.191 --> 03:52.080 and we ask that you please remain 03:52.080 --> 03:53.858 standing for the implication by 03:53.858 --> 03:55.913 Chaplaining Lieutenant Colonel James 03:55.913 --> 03:54.669 Pitts . 04:29.140 --> 04:30.369 Present the colors 04:44.079 --> 04:46.679 But Well 04:47.839 --> 04:51.089 Right But 04:52.589 --> 04:55.299 But But 04:56.540 --> 05:00.079 Right . But um , but . 05:03.739 --> 05:04.369 Lesser . 05:11.299 --> 05:14.160 The Free them up 05:16.100 --> 05:18.540 Oh , can you . 05:20.220 --> 05:21.190 the dawn . 05:40.000 --> 05:41.910 or the Hi 05:43.480 --> 05:46.600 watched were so gallantly 05:46.600 --> 05:48.029 streaming . 06:00.459 --> 06:04.109 that was there . 06:14.130 --> 06:14.910 Or the 06:28.329 --> 06:29.679 So they oh . 06:32.200 --> 06:33.200 Great . 06:42.420 --> 06:44.609 Oh But 06:46.459 --> 06:49.040 But But 06:50.279 --> 06:53.440 Why But 06:55.179 --> 06:57.730 But Well 07:13.029 --> 07:15.029 I invite you to pray with me if you 07:15.029 --> 07:16.029 will . 07:19.399 --> 07:21.880 Almighty God and prince of peace , we 07:21.880 --> 07:24.047 give you thanks for your call to serve 07:24.047 --> 07:26.102 and defend our freedom , the will to 07:26.102 --> 07:28.709 sacrifice the things worthwhile , and a 07:28.709 --> 07:31.079 profound love for both peace and 07:31.079 --> 07:33.630 justice . Thank you Lord for Colonel 07:33.630 --> 07:35.741 Hook and his time in command of NAYOC 07:35.741 --> 07:38.140 and the 595th Command and Control Group 07:38.470 --> 07:40.630 and for Colonel Lamont and his return 07:40.630 --> 07:43.709 to NAYO and now the 95th wing . We are 07:43.709 --> 07:46.109 indeed blessed to have and have had 07:46.109 --> 07:48.109 such capable and approachable teams 07:48.109 --> 07:50.619 lead us in exploiting our opportunities 07:50.619 --> 07:53.390 and in overcoming numerous challenges . 07:53.989 --> 07:56.540 But many lie ahead , so we seek your 07:56.540 --> 08:00.380 blessing as the 595th , 253rd , and 08:00.380 --> 08:03.299 6 10th come together in the 95th wing 08:03.299 --> 08:05.540 under Colonel Lamont's exemplary and 08:05.540 --> 08:07.318 continued leadership . May this 08:07.318 --> 08:09.339 consolidation and span of control 08:09.339 --> 08:11.850 enhance our readiness , effectiveness , 08:12.059 --> 08:15.519 and 33 responsiveness . For the 08:15.519 --> 08:18.029 95th 8th Air Force global strike , 08:18.239 --> 08:20.640 Stratcom and all of Team Offit , may 08:20.640 --> 08:22.720 our strength , capabilities , and 08:22.720 --> 08:25.790 determination continue to deter our 08:25.790 --> 08:28.279 nation's adversaries or prevail should 08:28.279 --> 08:30.989 they be undeterred . And for each of us , 08:31.239 --> 08:33.350 may we be faithful in our calling and 08:33.350 --> 08:35.549 service exceptional in professionalism 08:35.549 --> 08:38.099 and humanity , as well as victorious 08:38.099 --> 08:40.159 against every adversary . We pray in 08:40.159 --> 08:41.609 your holy name . Amen . 08:49.539 --> 08:51.872 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 08:58.359 --> 09:00.415 We thank the United States Strategic 09:00.415 --> 09:02.526 Command Joint Service Color Guard and 09:02.526 --> 09:04.692 the Heartland of America Band for that 09:04.692 --> 09:06.692 beautiful rendition of the national 09:06.692 --> 09:08.637 anthem . We also want to thank our 09:08.637 --> 09:10.637 chaplain , Lieutenant Colonel James 09:10.637 --> 09:10.460 Pitts , for his inspirational prayer 09:10.460 --> 09:14.169 and blessing . It is now my 09:14.169 --> 09:16.169 pleasure to introduce our presiding 09:16.169 --> 09:18.659 officer , Major General Jason Armagast . 09:25.380 --> 09:27.602 I feel like I say this every time , but 09:27.602 --> 09:29.713 that was the most impressive national 09:29.713 --> 09:31.713 anthem that I've seen at a ceremony 09:31.713 --> 09:33.880 like this , so thank you very much for 09:33.880 --> 09:35.936 that . That was unbelievable , and I 09:35.936 --> 09:38.102 will add I think Congressman Bacon may 09:38.102 --> 09:40.102 have been having a flashback to his 09:40.102 --> 09:42.213 time in service as the as the uh team 09:42.213 --> 09:44.380 was marching up , uh , the grin on his 09:44.380 --> 09:44.140 face . I wish you could have seen it 09:44.140 --> 09:46.251 actually because , uh , uh , that was 09:46.251 --> 09:48.580 special as well . um , this , I wanna 09:48.580 --> 09:51.659 say like you all , this is probably 09:51.659 --> 09:53.715 normal for up here at off it , but . 09:53.979 --> 09:56.035 This is a pretty impressive level of 09:56.035 --> 09:58.257 support you're receiving today for this 09:58.257 --> 10:00.090 change of command , uh , to , to 10:00.090 --> 10:02.312 elevate these two leaders . We're not , 10:02.312 --> 10:04.535 we're not closing anything down . We're 10:04.535 --> 10:04.500 actually bringing a team to a higher 10:04.500 --> 10:06.722 level today is what we're doing . So we 10:06.722 --> 10:09.890 have . National we have local , we have 10:09.890 --> 10:13.000 state , we have joint , we have total 10:13.000 --> 10:15.056 force , which if you're not familiar 10:15.056 --> 10:17.167 with that term , that is active guard 10:17.167 --> 10:19.369 and reserve who are here supporting 10:20.010 --> 10:22.369 this activity and will support and have 10:22.369 --> 10:24.679 supported the command and control 10:24.679 --> 10:27.650 element of the 595 now to become the 10:27.650 --> 10:30.119 95th . But I do , I wanna , uh , we'll 10:30.119 --> 10:33.039 take a brief second here to thank and 10:33.039 --> 10:35.520 recognize for , for the time they spent 10:35.520 --> 10:37.076 with us last night . If the 10:37.076 --> 10:39.799 ninety-fifth , uh , Bob Group Memorials 10:39.799 --> 10:40.950 team can stand up . 10:43.830 --> 10:44.460 So 10:52.250 --> 10:54.250 So we got to spend dinner with them 10:54.250 --> 10:57.979 last night and uh it was uh just like I 10:57.979 --> 11:00.146 thought it would be um over the course 11:00.146 --> 11:02.257 of the last probably 15 months , I've 11:02.257 --> 11:04.257 been lucky enough to be the 8th Air 11:04.257 --> 11:06.368 Force commander . When Masters of the 11:06.368 --> 11:08.535 Air came out and so what that actually 11:08.535 --> 11:10.590 did for us was not kind of the media 11:10.590 --> 11:12.923 exposure to our mission and our history , 11:12.923 --> 11:14.979 but it connected me and it connected 11:14.979 --> 11:16.979 our airmen and soldiers , sailors , 11:16.979 --> 11:19.099 airmen , and Marines in this case to 11:19.549 --> 11:22.070 the history that they are honoring in 11:22.070 --> 11:25.559 their future organization . Um , it's 11:25.559 --> 11:27.670 been pretty , pretty mind blowing for 11:27.670 --> 11:29.726 me and , uh , to spend time with the 11:29.726 --> 11:31.559 veterans in particular , but the 11:31.559 --> 11:33.726 families , which is the untold part of 11:33.726 --> 11:36.429 the story , uh , that carry on , uh , 11:36.440 --> 11:38.662 the survivors and those who were lost , 11:38.719 --> 11:41.229 um , in World War II and through 11:41.239 --> 11:43.350 through the decades and so I also got 11:43.350 --> 11:45.461 to , uh , Colonel Mollison and I were 11:45.461 --> 11:47.572 in the same fighter squadron about 24 11:47.572 --> 11:49.572 years apart and I got to learn some 11:49.572 --> 11:51.461 heritage there which was really , 11:51.461 --> 11:53.739 really special , um , to me personally , 11:53.739 --> 11:56.229 so , so thank you for that . OK , so 11:56.489 --> 11:58.822 what's happening in the world right now ? 11:58.822 --> 12:01.045 It's pretty dynamic , right ? I'm , I'm 12:01.045 --> 12:03.322 getting phone calls late at night , uh , 12:03.322 --> 12:05.729 so I pardon , pardon me if I , I won't 12:05.729 --> 12:07.785 nod off during this ceremony , but I 12:07.785 --> 12:09.840 might look a little red rimmed on my 12:09.840 --> 12:12.062 eyes . um , so we're pretty dynamic and 12:12.062 --> 12:14.229 pretty busy right now , and that's not 12:14.229 --> 12:16.451 going to change , um , but what also is 12:16.451 --> 12:18.451 underway with the support of all of 12:18.451 --> 12:21.000 these leaders for our nation . Is a 12:21.000 --> 12:23.130 nuclear modernization , right ? The 12:23.130 --> 12:26.159 joint community supporting the demand 12:26.159 --> 12:28.270 signal for what we need to do . We're 12:28.270 --> 12:30.760 doing a generational activity of 12:30.760 --> 12:32.960 changing out systems that have served 12:32.960 --> 12:35.239 very well , but they need to be changed 12:35.239 --> 12:37.520 out , and Stratcom helps us with that 12:37.520 --> 12:40.640 message on a daily basis , but this is 12:40.640 --> 12:42.880 hard business . But what is important 12:42.880 --> 12:44.936 about what we're doing here today is 12:44.936 --> 12:46.824 this is the unsung portion of the 12:46.824 --> 12:49.969 nuclear triad and how our country . is 12:49.969 --> 12:52.950 credible , capable , and , and , and 12:52.950 --> 12:55.590 really important as far as our 12:55.590 --> 12:58.219 leadership goes is command and control . 12:58.869 --> 13:01.549 unity of command and unity of effort is 13:01.549 --> 13:03.549 one of the military principles that 13:03.549 --> 13:05.750 have been proven through time in 13:05.750 --> 13:07.909 success or failure of those mission 13:07.909 --> 13:11.289 sets , that principle , and so . What 13:11.289 --> 13:13.456 we're doing here is really showing how 13:13.456 --> 13:15.456 the triad knits together through an 13:15.456 --> 13:18.309 organization and again it's it's Air 13:18.309 --> 13:21.690 Force flag , but also there is a joint 13:21.690 --> 13:23.746 element to this which we couldn't do 13:23.746 --> 13:27.609 without and the president's demand 13:27.609 --> 13:30.250 signal for this activity is unrelenting . 13:30.289 --> 13:32.880 The sects demand signal is unrelenting . 13:32.900 --> 13:35.280 In fact , Milton may talk about it or 13:35.289 --> 13:37.580 or Fish may talk about it today . Uh , 13:37.590 --> 13:40.169 but the SEF right now is , is with our 13:40.169 --> 13:44.099 E4 team . And so This is 13:44.099 --> 13:46.260 the this is the unsung but critical 13:46.260 --> 13:48.371 part of the foundational capabilities 13:48.371 --> 13:51.229 of nuclear modernization . And I will , 13:51.369 --> 13:53.650 I will return to Masters of the air to 13:53.650 --> 13:55.429 keep us on the clock here , but 13:56.250 --> 13:58.250 Something very interesting was said 13:58.250 --> 13:59.972 last night and I didn't really 13:59.972 --> 14:01.972 recognize this until uh it was just 14:01.972 --> 14:04.770 pointed out to me , but . The if you've 14:04.770 --> 14:06.770 watched the series , the very first 14:06.770 --> 14:08.937 opening scene takes place where ? Does 14:08.937 --> 14:11.929 anybody know ? Little trivia Kearney , 14:11.940 --> 14:14.059 Nebraska . The opening scene of that 14:14.059 --> 14:15.837 series takes place in Kearney , 14:15.837 --> 14:18.580 Nebraska . So , um , there's a , there 14:18.580 --> 14:20.636 were , there were training bases all 14:20.636 --> 14:22.691 over the state , multiple states I'm 14:22.691 --> 14:25.024 sure , but I grew up in McCook actually , 14:25.024 --> 14:27.191 and there was a training base north of 14:27.191 --> 14:29.302 town that was all abandoned and there 14:29.302 --> 14:29.049 were still hangars and runways there , 14:29.299 --> 14:32.239 uh , was a B-17 training base . So 14:32.239 --> 14:34.461 Masters of the Air started , the series 14:34.461 --> 14:38.390 started in , uh , in Carney . But 14:38.390 --> 14:40.334 then in the final episode , it was 14:40.334 --> 14:42.501 pointed out to me last night about the 14:42.501 --> 14:46.099 ninety-fifth bomb group . Where It's 14:46.099 --> 14:48.210 really important to understand one of 14:48.210 --> 14:50.377 the people I've got to spend time with 14:50.377 --> 14:52.543 is Lucky Luckadoo , and if you've , if 14:52.543 --> 14:52.450 you've seen or heard him , um , he's a , 14:52.500 --> 14:54.556 he's a phenomenal human being . He's 14:54.556 --> 14:57.299 103 years old now and he will captivate 14:57.299 --> 15:00.299 captivate audiences for 45 minutes , um , 15:00.340 --> 15:02.450 just like you all . And he's very 15:02.450 --> 15:04.672 strong in his opinions as he has earned 15:04.672 --> 15:06.728 the right to be , but he was a first 15:06.728 --> 15:08.894 lieutenant when he showed up and , and 15:08.894 --> 15:10.839 he suffered . He , he's very clear 15:10.839 --> 15:10.799 about this . He suffered through a lack 15:10.799 --> 15:12.799 of leadership and kind of some 15:12.799 --> 15:15.021 experimental innovative approaches they 15:15.021 --> 15:17.840 took in the 100th bomb group to how to 15:17.840 --> 15:20.062 fight in a war they didn't know yet how 15:20.062 --> 15:23.280 to fight . But the very last episode . 15:24.030 --> 15:26.739 Of masters of the air . It's a very 15:26.739 --> 15:28.840 brief moment where a commander was 15:28.840 --> 15:30.784 being brought in and they couldn't 15:30.784 --> 15:32.896 decide . Curtis LeMay couldn't decide 15:32.896 --> 15:35.062 whether he was going to go to the 95th 15:35.062 --> 15:34.659 bomb group or the 100th , the bloody 15:34.659 --> 15:37.820 100th that was suffering . And he asked 15:37.820 --> 15:40.820 that commander and he said , The 95th 15:40.820 --> 15:43.109 is doing well . They're doing fine . I 15:43.109 --> 15:45.331 think you should send me to the 100th . 15:45.580 --> 15:48.059 So I firmly believe that organizations 15:48.059 --> 15:51.599 have memory . They , they , they , it's 15:51.599 --> 15:54.109 an organism that lives through time and 15:54.109 --> 15:56.220 the fact that the 95th was doing fine 15:56.220 --> 15:58.276 and is being elevated today by these 15:58.276 --> 16:01.229 two fantastic leaders really says a lot 16:01.229 --> 16:04.640 about what the future holds . So a lot 16:04.640 --> 16:06.640 of times these changes of command , 16:06.640 --> 16:08.584 some of my friends do these fairly 16:08.584 --> 16:10.751 often as well , and they can be fairly 16:10.751 --> 16:12.751 sad because you're losing someone . 16:12.751 --> 16:14.862 We're not losing anyone today . We're 16:14.862 --> 16:17.084 gaining in authority . We're gaining in 16:17.084 --> 16:19.307 elevation and everyone's staying on the 16:19.307 --> 16:21.640 team . So this is the perfect , perfect , 16:21.840 --> 16:23.869 um , a way to celebrate the 95th 16:24.919 --> 16:26.863 formerly bombed group but the 95th 16:26.863 --> 16:28.919 command and control wing now being a 16:28.919 --> 16:30.975 TFI and joint organization that will 16:30.975 --> 16:33.086 carry this critical mission forward . 16:33.086 --> 16:35.141 And I look forward to uh casing some 16:35.141 --> 16:37.252 flags and , and opening some new ones 16:37.252 --> 16:39.363 with uh great teammates . All right , 16:39.363 --> 16:39.349 thank you . 16:49.450 --> 16:51.869 Thank you , General Armagast . Ladies 16:51.869 --> 16:53.925 and gentlemen , it is my pleasure to 16:53.925 --> 16:56.147 introduce to you Colonel Patrick Hook . 17:07.869 --> 17:11.260 I'm in the unenviable position of being 17:11.260 --> 17:13.204 between two great leaders having a 17:13.204 --> 17:16.930 chance to talk . We've had a quick 17:16.930 --> 17:20.420 summary of the why , and I know we're 17:20.420 --> 17:22.900 going to have a quick summary of the 17:22.900 --> 17:25.122 history and the heritage coming up . So 17:25.122 --> 17:27.579 for me , I'm just going to keep it 17:27.579 --> 17:29.579 short and sweet and say a few thank 17:29.579 --> 17:32.199 yous . First of all , uh , to our 17:32.199 --> 17:35.229 elected officials , uh , civic leaders , 17:35.349 --> 17:37.627 general officers , commanders , chiefs , 17:37.627 --> 17:39.682 and distinguished guests , thank you 17:39.682 --> 17:41.627 for honoring us with your presence 17:41.627 --> 17:43.793 today . Likewise to family and friends 17:43.793 --> 17:45.738 here . Thank you for your enduring 17:45.738 --> 17:48.071 support and sharing this great occasion . 17:48.071 --> 17:50.238 To Major Atabaki and the team that has 17:50.238 --> 17:52.405 put this event on , the fitting of the 17:52.405 --> 17:55.380 occasion . Thank you . It's not easy , 17:55.790 --> 17:57.901 but you make it look easy . Uh , it's 17:57.901 --> 18:01.089 magic . To our hosts and mission 18:01.089 --> 18:03.033 partners at the fifty-fifth wing , 18:03.089 --> 18:06.050 thank you first of all for hosting us 18:06.050 --> 18:08.050 here today in the Benny Davis , and 18:08.050 --> 18:10.272 thank you for the myriad of issues that 18:10.272 --> 18:12.494 you , uh , work with us on day to day . 18:12.729 --> 18:14.951 You're awesome partners and we can't do 18:14.951 --> 18:16.896 this mission without you . General 18:16.896 --> 18:19.569 Omargras , sir . Thank you for 18:19.569 --> 18:21.770 presiding today , uh , and thank you 18:21.770 --> 18:23.881 for your trust and confidence in me , 18:23.881 --> 18:25.992 as I have commanded the the NACOC and 18:25.992 --> 18:28.729 the 595th . In the Air Force , for 18:28.729 --> 18:30.729 those who don't know , I think it's 18:30.729 --> 18:33.699 safe to say . If you make it to colonel 18:33.699 --> 18:35.810 and you're lucky enough to be charged 18:35.810 --> 18:38.400 with command upon that assignment . One 18:38.400 --> 18:41.319 of your your first thoughts or concerns 18:41.319 --> 18:43.239 is who's the numbered Air Force 18:43.239 --> 18:45.989 commander gonna be ? Uh , and so when I 18:45.989 --> 18:48.211 found out what job I was going to get , 18:48.211 --> 18:50.378 I didn't have that problem . I already 18:50.378 --> 18:52.433 knew who the 8th Air Force commander 18:52.433 --> 18:56.109 was , um , personally , and sir , uh , 18:56.229 --> 18:58.451 you're the same leader that you were at 18:58.451 --> 19:00.785 the 13th Bomb Squadron . You're a coach , 19:00.785 --> 19:02.618 a mentor , you're supportive and 19:02.618 --> 19:04.562 empowering , and you're still that 19:04.562 --> 19:06.340 today . Thank you very much for 19:06.340 --> 19:10.339 supporting me . Um What 19:10.339 --> 19:12.561 a great day and what a great occasion . 19:13.130 --> 19:15.297 It's not every day you get to activate 19:15.297 --> 19:18.670 a wing . Inherit rich heritage and 19:18.670 --> 19:21.550 simultaneously set a new path for the 19:21.550 --> 19:24.500 benefit of national security . Today is 19:24.500 --> 19:26.810 that day for literally thousands of men 19:26.810 --> 19:28.859 and women in service performing 19:28.859 --> 19:30.581 critical command , control and 19:30.581 --> 19:34.140 communication action . Across this base 19:34.530 --> 19:35.808 and across the globe . 19:41.520 --> 19:43.409 Again , I don't want to steal any 19:43.409 --> 19:45.631 thunder from Milton . I know he's gonna 19:45.631 --> 19:47.839 regale you , uh , in detail with some 19:48.160 --> 19:51.390 awesome heraldry and history . Uh , but 19:51.390 --> 19:53.829 I would be remiss if I didn't , uh , on 19:53.829 --> 19:56.051 the occasion of the inactivation of the 19:56.051 --> 19:58.540 595th , cover a little , uh , brief 19:58.540 --> 20:01.750 history of the last near decade since 20:01.750 --> 20:03.806 the 595th was stood up and activated 20:03.806 --> 20:07.209 here at Offit . Simply put , the men 20:07.209 --> 20:10.979 and women of the 595th have Been 20:10.979 --> 20:14.390 superlative Uh , in teaming with the 20:14.390 --> 20:17.030 NAOC over those 9 years , they have 20:17.390 --> 20:21.239 overcome a 1000 year flood . They have 20:21.239 --> 20:24.280 endured through COVID . They've had to 20:25.069 --> 20:27.510 find a way to get the mission done 20:27.510 --> 20:29.489 while displaced , but sustained 20:29.489 --> 20:31.819 operations happen out of Lincoln . And 20:31.819 --> 20:35.420 I could , I won't go to classified 20:35.420 --> 20:37.459 detail about the infinite number of 20:37.459 --> 20:40.770 miracles that they pulled off and uh 20:40.770 --> 20:42.381 supporting and defending our 20:42.381 --> 20:45.439 Constitution . So to all the men and 20:45.439 --> 20:47.272 women , the soldiers , sailors , 20:47.272 --> 20:49.439 marines and airmen of the NAOC and the 20:49.439 --> 20:51.880 595th , it has been my honor and 20:51.880 --> 20:54.047 privilege to serve as your commander . 20:54.489 --> 20:57.609 Just 2 more thoughts to wrap up . As 20:57.609 --> 20:59.720 Colonel Lamont assumes we can command 20:59.720 --> 21:01.831 today , I'm so thankful for the total 21:01.831 --> 21:04.709 force . He is absolutely the right 21:04.709 --> 21:07.199 leader at the right time . I'm looking 21:07.199 --> 21:08.977 forward to being his deputy for 21:08.977 --> 21:11.189 operations . This is a very exciting 21:11.189 --> 21:14.780 time . Last but certainly not 21:14.780 --> 21:17.579 least , there's a young lady sitting in 21:17.579 --> 21:20.579 the front . She's been my , uh , bride 21:20.579 --> 21:23.209 for 21 years , uh , and an 21:23.699 --> 21:26.900 unending sort of source of support and 21:26.900 --> 21:29.500 love . Lisa , you are always there for 21:29.500 --> 21:31.500 me , and I'm so thankful that we're 21:31.500 --> 21:33.722 continuing the journey together . Thank 21:33.722 --> 21:34.722 you . Thank you . 21:42.900 --> 21:44.733 At this time , Colonel Hook will 21:44.733 --> 21:46.844 present flowers to his spouse , Mrs . 21:46.844 --> 21:48.900 Lisa Hook , on behalf of the men and 21:48.900 --> 21:51.067 women of the 595th Command and Control 21:51.067 --> 21:53.233 Group and National Airborne Operations 21:53.233 --> 21:55.289 Center . Please accept these flowers 21:55.289 --> 21:57.400 for your compassionate leadership and 21:57.400 --> 21:57.339 unwavering support . 22:10.780 --> 22:13.300 Thank you , Colonel Hook . General 22:13.300 --> 22:15.133 Armorgas , would you please join 22:15.133 --> 22:17.244 Colonel Hook at center stage ? Ladies 22:17.244 --> 22:19.300 and gentlemen , please stand for the 22:19.300 --> 22:21.411 inactivation of the 595th Command and 22:21.411 --> 22:23.522 Control Group and casing of its guide 22:23.522 --> 22:22.579 on . 22:33.880 --> 22:36.040 Attention to orders . By order of the 22:36.040 --> 22:38.040 commander , Air Force Global Strike 22:38.040 --> 22:40.262 Command , the 595th Command and Control 22:40.262 --> 22:42.373 Group is inactivated . Concurrently , 22:42.373 --> 22:44.373 the unit designation reverts to the 22:44.373 --> 22:46.429 control of the Department of the Air 22:46.429 --> 22:48.707 Force per Special Order Golf Sierra 04 , 22:48.707 --> 22:51.839 effective 28 February 2025 signed 22:51.839 --> 22:53.599 General Thomas A . Bossier . 23:48.579 --> 23:49.579 And . 24:01.160 --> 24:03.382 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated 24:03.382 --> 24:05.271 as we transition to the change of 24:05.271 --> 24:07.160 command ceremony for the National 24:07.160 --> 24:07.000 Airborne Operations Center . 24:13.670 --> 24:15.559 A change of command ceremony is a 24:15.559 --> 24:17.559 military tradition deeply rooted in 24:17.559 --> 24:20.089 history dating back to July 3 , 1775 24:20.380 --> 24:22.602 when General George Washington drew his 24:22.602 --> 24:24.769 sword under an elm tree in Cambridge , 24:24.769 --> 24:26.936 Massachusetts to assume command of the 24:26.936 --> 24:29.102 Continental Army . During the American 24:29.102 --> 24:31.102 Revolution , military units carried 24:31.102 --> 24:33.324 distinctive flags designed to match the 24:33.324 --> 24:35.491 color of their uniforms and emblazoned 24:35.491 --> 24:37.602 with their unit motto . When soldiers 24:37.602 --> 24:37.589 followed their leader into battle , 24:37.859 --> 24:39.859 this flag , referred to as the unit 24:39.859 --> 24:41.803 colors , provided a highly visible 24:41.803 --> 24:43.970 point around which members of the unit 24:43.970 --> 24:46.303 could rally . Because of its importance , 24:46.303 --> 24:48.359 the colors were used in the earliest 24:48.359 --> 24:50.137 change of command ceremonies to 24:50.137 --> 24:52.248 symbolize the commander's authority , 24:52.248 --> 24:54.303 and that tradition continues today . 24:54.520 --> 24:56.687 Our guide on bearer for this change of 24:56.687 --> 24:58.909 command is Chief Master Sergeant Angelo 24:58.909 --> 25:01.020 Brightwell , senior enlisted leader , 25:01.020 --> 25:03.131 National Airborne Operations Center . 25:03.131 --> 25:05.353 The passing of the organizational flags 25:05.353 --> 25:07.464 symbolized responsibility , authority 25:07.464 --> 25:09.687 and accountability from Colonel Patrick 25:09.687 --> 25:12.839 Hook to Colonel David Lamont . Ladies 25:12.839 --> 25:14.895 and gentlemen , please stand for the 25:14.895 --> 25:16.006 change of command . 25:28.859 --> 25:32.400 Published the Attention to orders . By 25:32.400 --> 25:34.567 order of the Commander , 8th Air Force 25:34.567 --> 25:36.511 and Joint Global Strike Operations 25:36.511 --> 25:38.567 Center , Colonel Patrick J . Hook is 25:38.567 --> 25:40.678 relieved from command of the National 25:40.678 --> 25:42.733 Airborne Operations Center . Colonel 25:42.733 --> 25:44.789 David C . Lamont assumes command per 25:44.789 --> 25:46.844 the order of Major General Jason R . 25:46.844 --> 25:49.122 Armagos , effective February 28 , 2025 . 26:36.469 --> 26:38.525 Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 26:38.525 --> 26:40.469 standing for the activation of the 26:40.469 --> 26:42.358 ninety-fifth wing followed by the 26:42.358 --> 26:44.525 assumption of command by Colonel David 26:44.525 --> 26:43.719 Lamont and the assumption of 26:43.719 --> 26:45.941 responsibility by Chief Master Sergeant 26:45.941 --> 26:49.000 Michael Moore . Publish the 26:49.869 --> 26:52.069 Attention to orders Special Order Golf 26:52.069 --> 26:54.510 Sierra 04 by order of the commander , 26:54.589 --> 26:56.700 Air Force Global Strike Command , the 26:56.700 --> 26:58.719 95th wing is activated at Offit Air 26:58.719 --> 27:00.886 Force Base in Nebraska and assigned to 27:00.886 --> 27:02.941 8th Air Force per Special Order Golf 27:02.941 --> 27:05.109 Sierra 04 , effective 28th February 27:05.109 --> 27:08.719 2025 signed General Thomas A . Busier . 28:26.270 --> 28:28.048 Ladies and gentlemen , it is my 28:28.048 --> 28:30.159 distinct pleasure to introduce to you 28:30.159 --> 28:32.270 the commander , ninety-fifth Wing and 28:32.270 --> 28:32.239 National Airborne Operations Center , 28:32.270 --> 28:34.326 Colonel David Lamont and the command 28:34.326 --> 28:36.437 chief 95th Wing Chief Master Sergeant 28:36.437 --> 28:37.437 Michael Moore . 28:51.099 --> 28:53.250 Thank you . Please be seated . 28:57.479 --> 29:00.239 What a fantastic day . So , uh , as , 29:00.250 --> 29:02.583 uh , as General Armagast mentioned , um , 29:02.959 --> 29:05.760 the mission doesn't stop with the 5 now 29:05.760 --> 29:09.640 the 95th , um , as we speak in 29:09.640 --> 29:12.109 E4B with the Secretary of Defense is on 29:12.109 --> 29:15.239 board , uh , flying from Guam to Yokota , 29:15.280 --> 29:18.000 Japan . And um believe it or not , the 29:18.000 --> 29:20.056 Secretary of Defense is our number 3 29:20.056 --> 29:22.239 priority um so it's kind of an 29:22.239 --> 29:24.359 interesting place to be , but it's it 29:24.359 --> 29:26.359 we actually got call outs about the 29:26.359 --> 29:29.410 95th today from the secretary and we 29:29.410 --> 29:32.630 had an airman get um reenlist this 29:32.630 --> 29:34.880 morning and the Secretary of Defense is 29:34.880 --> 29:37.319 the signatory on that . So really cool 29:37.319 --> 29:39.829 day for the 95th in multiple ways . 29:41.260 --> 29:43.149 So I wanna say thank you first to 29:43.149 --> 29:45.204 General Armagast . Thank you for the 29:45.204 --> 29:47.204 kind words , um , and thank you for 29:47.204 --> 29:49.538 your leadership over the last few years . 29:49.538 --> 29:51.760 Um , it is , it has been truly an honor 29:51.760 --> 29:53.982 and I've learned so much from you . I , 29:53.982 --> 29:56.449 I appreciate it , sir . The entire team 29:56.449 --> 29:58.616 to put this together , including Major 29:58.616 --> 30:00.671 Atabaki , who , uh , I'm pretty sure 30:00.671 --> 30:02.838 his wife Amanda is gonna be very happy 30:02.838 --> 30:04.893 that today is , is behind him , um , 30:04.893 --> 30:07.005 but I just wanna say thank you to him 30:07.005 --> 30:09.599 and the rest of the team . Um , Wendy , 30:09.760 --> 30:12.040 I don't know how , um , it could be 23 30:12.040 --> 30:14.262 years for us since you're , you're only 30:14.262 --> 30:17.160 29 , um , but , uh , you've been my 30:17.160 --> 30:19.640 rock for 23 years , and , uh , we've 30:19.640 --> 30:22.599 been together , uh , 16 days longer 30:22.599 --> 30:24.766 than I've been associated with the Air 30:24.766 --> 30:26.988 Force and , uh , couldn't do it without 30:26.988 --> 30:30.030 you . I love you . I'd also like to say 30:30.030 --> 30:32.086 thank you , welcome and thank you to 30:32.086 --> 30:34.419 our elected officials from the national , 30:34.419 --> 30:36.586 state , and local level . Um , some of 30:36.586 --> 30:38.697 you have been , uh , integral in , in 30:38.697 --> 30:40.808 the stand up of this wing and I wanna 30:40.808 --> 30:43.030 say thank you and welcome . Uh , to the 30:43.030 --> 30:45.030 general officers , commanders , and 30:45.030 --> 30:47.086 chiefs , uh , it's a , it's a pretty 30:47.086 --> 30:50.079 austere crowd or a August crowd , not 30:50.079 --> 30:53.829 austere , August uh crowd , and , uh , 30:53.839 --> 30:55.950 I wanna say thank you for , for being 30:55.950 --> 30:57.949 here . I'd like to highlight 30:57.949 --> 31:00.060 specifically , um , the protocol told 31:00.060 --> 31:01.782 me not to highlight anybody in 31:01.782 --> 31:03.949 particular but , uh , but I do want to 31:03.949 --> 31:06.005 highlight one and that's , uh , uh , 31:06.005 --> 31:07.949 Colonel Chilly Howard and uh Chief 31:07.949 --> 31:10.005 Small um they and , uh , and Colonel 31:10.005 --> 31:11.838 Aaron Gray . They've been , uh , 31:11.838 --> 31:14.060 thefty-fifth wing has been tremendously 31:14.060 --> 31:16.227 helpful , um , throughout my time here 31:16.227 --> 31:18.338 and , uh , fantastic partners , and I 31:18.338 --> 31:22.180 thank you . I also like to welcome the 31:22.180 --> 31:24.069 ninety-fifth Bomb Group Memorials 31:24.069 --> 31:26.550 Foundation . Um , we've been talking 31:26.550 --> 31:28.670 for about a year and , uh , and it's 31:28.670 --> 31:30.559 great to finally meet everyone in 31:30.559 --> 31:32.829 person and , uh , and we heard some 31:32.829 --> 31:35.829 fantastic stories last night . Finally , 31:35.900 --> 31:38.750 to the airmen and joint warriors of the 31:38.750 --> 31:41.069 ninety-fifth wing and fifty-fifth wing 31:41.349 --> 31:43.682 and National Airborne Operations Center , 31:43.682 --> 31:45.849 welcome and thank you for being here . 31:46.500 --> 31:48.667 You know , it's not often that you get 31:48.667 --> 31:50.889 to command multiple times at the , uh , 31:50.889 --> 31:53.609 um , much less at the 06 06 level . Um , 31:53.660 --> 31:57.020 but it's rare that you get to command 31:57.020 --> 31:59.242 relatively the same , uh , very similar 31:59.242 --> 32:02.969 unit . Um , as the , the former 595th 32:02.969 --> 32:06.780 commander , um , it's It's , it's very 32:06.780 --> 32:08.724 similar and uh we're just adding a 32:08.724 --> 32:10.891 couple of organizations that I'll talk 32:10.891 --> 32:13.390 about here in just a minute . But it's , 32:13.420 --> 32:15.476 uh , it's even rarer that you get to 32:15.476 --> 32:17.587 stand up and be a part of standing up 32:17.587 --> 32:20.619 uh a new wing . um , and , uh , this 32:20.619 --> 32:23.089 has been a fantastic learning process 32:23.089 --> 32:25.939 and it's been , um , it's been humbling 32:25.939 --> 32:28.400 and honoring . The men and women of the 32:28.400 --> 32:30.400 595th Command and Control Group and 32:30.400 --> 32:32.989 National Airborne Operations Squadron 32:32.989 --> 32:35.439 took the unit to new heights underneath 32:35.439 --> 32:37.439 Colonel Hook , and Colonel Hook led 32:37.439 --> 32:40.469 them admirably . Um , he took the unit 32:40.770 --> 32:42.603 knowing that the wing was on the 32:42.603 --> 32:44.949 horizon and not knowing the date , 32:45.130 --> 32:48.050 which is even worse . Um , we've gone 32:48.050 --> 32:50.161 back and forth on the date for this , 32:50.161 --> 32:52.569 um , so often that , uh , I , it , it 32:52.569 --> 32:54.550 that that . Yes . 32:58.319 --> 33:00.486 So that uncertainty actually continued 33:00.486 --> 33:02.597 all the way into February this year , 33:02.597 --> 33:04.708 um , despite , despite this , Colonel 33:04.708 --> 33:06.819 Hook was not distracted and led the 33:06.819 --> 33:10.630 team . Very , very well . The 33:10.630 --> 33:12.797 normal timeline for stand up a wing is 33:12.797 --> 33:15.310 measured in years , but the 95th stood 33:15.310 --> 33:18.420 up in 53 weeks . Secretary Kendall , 33:18.430 --> 33:20.652 the secretary of the Air Force , signed 33:20.652 --> 33:22.763 our wing into existence an hour and a 33:22.763 --> 33:24.819 half before he left the Pentagon for 33:24.819 --> 33:26.986 the last time . The Air Force is going 33:26.986 --> 33:29.041 through a lot of changes , and while 33:29.041 --> 33:31.041 other changes in the Air Force were 33:31.041 --> 33:32.930 paused , the Air Force leadership 33:32.930 --> 33:34.986 decided not to pause the 95th wing's 33:34.986 --> 33:37.152 development because the wing is needed 33:37.152 --> 33:39.208 so badly . So what does the new wing 33:39.208 --> 33:42.219 bring ? The 595th Command and Control 33:42.219 --> 33:44.386 Group and National Airborne Operations 33:44.386 --> 33:46.219 Center were focused primarily on 33:46.219 --> 33:48.459 providing national and nuclear C2 33:48.459 --> 33:52.319 through C3 . So my wife loves it when 33:52.319 --> 33:54.760 I talk in acronyms . Um , so what , 33:54.800 --> 33:56.578 what the heck does that mean is 33:56.578 --> 33:58.856 probably what she's thinking right now . 33:58.856 --> 34:00.856 Well , I've tried to come up with a 34:00.856 --> 34:02.911 couple of analogies and , and I even 34:02.911 --> 34:04.800 thought through talking through a 34:04.800 --> 34:07.133 really cool Calvin and Hobbes , uh , uh , 34:07.133 --> 34:09.078 cartoon I have on my my board that 34:09.078 --> 34:11.244 explains the relationship of C2 and C3 34:11.244 --> 34:13.411 together but then I realized that that 34:13.411 --> 34:15.633 probably wouldn't be the most effective 34:15.633 --> 34:15.620 way . But , uh , but rather than trying 34:15.620 --> 34:19.090 to paint a picture , I'll just say C2 34:19.090 --> 34:22.870 is two seats command and control . And 34:22.870 --> 34:25.110 those are the orders being given to the 34:25.110 --> 34:27.698 troops . In the situation of nuclear 34:27.698 --> 34:29.858 command and control , which the 595th 34:29.858 --> 34:32.418 focused on , only the president can 34:32.418 --> 34:34.979 give orders , and it takes a lot of 34:34.979 --> 34:37.201 specialized materials and processes for 34:37.201 --> 34:40.889 that to occur . National C2 or national 34:40.889 --> 34:43.000 command and control is different than 34:43.000 --> 34:45.800 nuclear C2 in that national command and 34:45.800 --> 34:48.530 control applies to orders for the 34:48.530 --> 34:50.697 Secretary of Defense , the Chairman of 34:50.697 --> 34:52.919 the Joint Chiefs of Staff , and and a , 34:52.919 --> 34:55.086 and a handful of high-level generals . 34:55.086 --> 34:58.310 So that's the , that's the C2 part of 34:58.760 --> 35:02.320 us doing C2 via C3 . So what's C3 ? 35:02.439 --> 35:05.889 C3 just adds an extra C . Uh , it's 35:05.889 --> 35:07.945 command and control communications . 35:08.040 --> 35:10.679 It's more simply , it's the network 35:10.679 --> 35:12.790 through which command and control the 35:12.790 --> 35:16.080 orders pass . There are specialized 35:16.080 --> 35:19.840 nuclear C3 networks for uh that , 35:19.949 --> 35:23.149 that use uh that uh that propagate 35:23.280 --> 35:26.600 nuclear C2 and there are communication 35:26.600 --> 35:28.919 networks and options expand for 35:28.919 --> 35:32.870 national C2 VSC3 . So as I said , 35:33.080 --> 35:35.247 the 595th Command and Control Group in 35:35.247 --> 35:37.247 NAYOCC , uh , provided national and 35:37.247 --> 35:40.040 nuclear C2 via C-3 . The 95th wing 35:40.040 --> 35:41.870 incorporates all the previous 35:41.870 --> 35:44.037 organizations and units that will , so 35:44.037 --> 35:46.259 we'll continue to provide the president 35:46.259 --> 35:48.092 and senior leaders with national 35:48.092 --> 35:50.314 nuclear C3 capabilities . But now we're 35:50.314 --> 35:52.719 adding two new units that focus on 35:52.719 --> 35:56.040 national C3 . The 2503 Command and 35:56.040 --> 35:57.929 Control Group out of FE Warren in 35:57.929 --> 35:59.873 Cheyenne , Wyoming , uh , provides 35:59.873 --> 36:03.689 national level . C3 or communication 36:03.689 --> 36:06.169 networks , uh , options to the nation's 36:06.169 --> 36:08.729 senior leaders . The 6th 10th Command 36:08.729 --> 36:10.618 and Control squadron out of Davis 36:10.618 --> 36:12.810 Montham in Tucson , Arizona provides 36:12.810 --> 36:15.239 training and education for National 36:15.239 --> 36:19.020 Level C3 as well . But there's a 36:19.020 --> 36:21.187 twist with these two . We already were 36:21.187 --> 36:24.709 joint . Now we're adding with the 253 36:24.709 --> 36:26.876 Command and Control Group at FE Warren 36:26.876 --> 36:29.042 is made up of roughly 170 Air National 36:29.042 --> 36:31.030 Guard airmen . Air National Guard 36:31.030 --> 36:33.300 operates very differently as they not 36:33.300 --> 36:35.522 only work for the president , as do all 36:35.522 --> 36:37.899 the military , whose focus is to 36:37.899 --> 36:40.066 support and defend the Constitution of 36:40.066 --> 36:42.177 the United States against all enemies 36:42.177 --> 36:44.343 foreign and domestic , they also serve 36:44.343 --> 36:46.455 the governor of Wyoming . And the 6th 36:46.455 --> 36:48.510 10th Command and Control squadron at 36:48.510 --> 36:50.566 Nas Bonntham is an Air Force reserve 36:50.566 --> 36:52.788 unit . The 595th and NAYOC were already 36:52.788 --> 36:55.310 joined , meaning they had multiple 36:55.310 --> 36:57.421 branches of the military , Army , Air 36:57.421 --> 36:59.477 Force , Navy , and Marines . But now 36:59.477 --> 37:01.477 we're adding National Guard and Air 37:01.477 --> 37:03.421 Force reserve units . This wing is 37:03.421 --> 37:06.090 truly unique . But we have a unique 37:06.090 --> 37:08.370 purpose for ensuring the president and 37:08.370 --> 37:11.199 senior leaders can get orders to 37:11.199 --> 37:13.110 military forces . That's the tie 37:13.110 --> 37:15.479 between us all . The ability to have 37:15.479 --> 37:17.701 resilient and ready communications at a 37:17.701 --> 37:19.923 moment's notice gives adversaries pause 37:20.280 --> 37:22.959 and acts as a deterrent because of 37:22.959 --> 37:25.290 their inability to stop orders from 37:25.290 --> 37:28.540 being given to the military . So in the 37:28.540 --> 37:30.707 development of development of the wing 37:30.707 --> 37:32.429 we uh reactivated a unit , the 37:32.429 --> 37:34.318 ninety-fifth wing , um , that was 37:34.318 --> 37:37.739 deactivated in 2013 . It may look like 37:37.739 --> 37:40.330 we just lopped off a 5 from the 595th 37:40.330 --> 37:43.250 um to uh to stand up the 95th , but , 37:43.260 --> 37:46.340 um , but the number similarity is , is , 37:46.360 --> 37:48.899 is simply coincidental . The Air Force 37:48.899 --> 37:50.843 has a lot of inactive units and to 37:50.843 --> 37:53.010 carry on the line and the intent is to 37:53.010 --> 37:55.066 bring back a former unit to carry on 37:55.066 --> 37:57.177 the lineage and memories of those who 37:57.177 --> 37:59.177 fought in these units . And the Air 37:59.177 --> 38:01.177 Force reactivates units rather than 38:01.177 --> 38:03.177 creating units a new . The 95th Bob 38:03.177 --> 38:05.810 Group Heavy began in 1942 as a B-17 38:05.810 --> 38:08.679 bomber unit tasked to defeat Germans 38:08.889 --> 38:11.399 during World War II . They flew out of 38:11.399 --> 38:13.500 3 airfields in southeastern England 38:13.500 --> 38:15.722 during the war , but Horham , England , 38:15.899 --> 38:18.739 about an hour , uh , cars ride from RAF 38:18.739 --> 38:21.179 Mildenhall , uh , was , uh , was their 38:21.179 --> 38:24.179 primary location . The 95th became the 38:24.179 --> 38:27.830 most decorated 8th Air Force bomb group 38:27.830 --> 38:29.941 during World War II because they were 38:29.941 --> 38:32.163 awarded 3 presidential unit citations . 38:32.163 --> 38:34.052 Those are those things that I was 38:34.052 --> 38:35.886 really struggling with trying to 38:35.886 --> 38:38.163 untangle there as we let the flag down . 38:38.163 --> 38:40.163 The most notable of these three was 38:40.163 --> 38:42.274 awarded for their action on March 4 , 38:42.274 --> 38:44.330 1944 . We were really hoping to have 38:44.330 --> 38:46.497 this on March 4th , which would be the 38:46.497 --> 38:48.608 81st anniversary of this , but , um , 38:48.608 --> 38:50.886 but , um , that , that didn't work out . 38:50.886 --> 38:53.540 Uh , 8th Air Force had been salivating 38:53.540 --> 38:55.860 over the idea of dropping bombs on the 38:55.860 --> 38:57.804 capital of Germany after months of 38:57.804 --> 38:59.739 watching London and the English 38:59.739 --> 39:01.628 countryside being bombed daily by 39:01.628 --> 39:05.370 Hitler's forces . March 4th was the 8th 39:05.370 --> 39:08.270 Air Force was the 8th Air Force got the 39:08.270 --> 39:11.219 call to bomb Berlin . However , March 39:11.219 --> 39:13.350 4th was actually the 6th time Berlin 39:13.350 --> 39:15.406 had been briefed to the crews , with 39:15.406 --> 39:17.628 the previous 5 times being canceled due 39:17.628 --> 39:19.899 to poor weather . The 95th Bob Group 39:19.899 --> 39:22.500 launched a maximum effort of 38 bombers 39:22.790 --> 39:25.469 who joined with another 200 bombers 39:25.469 --> 39:29.060 from 8th Air Force bases around England . 39:30.090 --> 39:32.257 The ninety-fifth was the lead unit for 39:32.257 --> 39:34.479 the effort and Lieutenant Colonel Griff 39:34.479 --> 39:36.701 Mumford was the mission commander . His 39:36.701 --> 39:39.120 son Toby Mumford , uh , who planned to 39:39.120 --> 39:41.342 be here today , uh , but Sally couldn't 39:41.342 --> 39:43.231 make it , is the president of the 39:43.231 --> 39:45.120 Ninety-fifth Bomb Group Memorials 39:45.120 --> 39:48.010 Foundation . Griff , his father , led 39:48.010 --> 39:50.449 the charge of 238 bombers towards 39:50.449 --> 39:53.050 Berlin , but many of the bombers 39:53.050 --> 39:54.883 received what they thought was a 39:54.883 --> 39:56.939 weather recall and diverted to other 39:56.939 --> 39:58.994 targets . Griff saw the error in the 39:58.994 --> 40:01.050 message and knew it was not a recall 40:01.050 --> 40:04.649 message , probably a spoofer , um , and 40:04.649 --> 40:07.290 continued to push forward with 29 40:07.290 --> 40:09.729 bombers , most of them , most of those 40:09.729 --> 40:11.870 being from the 95th bomb group . And 40:11.870 --> 40:13.814 did what Hitler's right-hand man , 40:13.814 --> 40:16.060 Hermann Goring said could not be done . 40:16.510 --> 40:19.979 They therefore bombed Berlin . A first , 40:20.909 --> 40:23.409 The ninety-fifth landed to much fanfare 40:23.719 --> 40:26.600 and uh that day , um , and , and had 40:26.600 --> 40:29.600 relatively light losses . Not every 40:29.600 --> 40:31.840 mission was so lucky to have uh had 40:31.840 --> 40:34.179 light losses . In fact , they there 40:34.179 --> 40:36.790 force lost more American war fighters 40:37.080 --> 40:39.360 during World War II than the entirety 40:39.360 --> 40:42.320 of the United States Marine Corps . One 40:42.320 --> 40:45.229 such sortie where uh someone was lost 40:45.229 --> 40:47.479 was flown by a co-pilot named 40:47.479 --> 40:50.679 Lieutenant Earl Lesser . On his 19th 40:50.679 --> 40:53.379 mission to Europe . Lieutenant Lesser 40:53.379 --> 40:55.546 was shot down over enemy territory and 40:55.546 --> 40:59.459 became a POW in uh in Germany . After 40:59.459 --> 41:01.348 several months in captivity , the 41:01.348 --> 41:03.515 Russians were invading from the east , 41:03.515 --> 41:05.792 uh , invaded the Third Reich territory , 41:05.792 --> 41:08.139 and POWs were marched in the bitter 41:08.139 --> 41:10.419 cold westward away from the Russians in 41:10.419 --> 41:12.659 the front lines . Lieutenant Lesser was 41:12.659 --> 41:15.389 part of this group . About two months 41:15.389 --> 41:17.310 ago , Lieutenant Lesser's son and 41:17.310 --> 41:19.254 granddaughter re-enacted the march 41:19.254 --> 41:22.060 westward that the co-pilot took in 1945 . 41:23.159 --> 41:26.889 So I share these two , this 41:26.889 --> 41:29.360 story and the story of of Griff Mumford 41:29.360 --> 41:33.040 to highlight how much the 95th means to 41:33.040 --> 41:34.873 the remaining veterans and their 41:34.873 --> 41:37.709 families . The 95th fought valiantly , 41:38.000 --> 41:40.320 and we now have the honor of carrying 41:40.320 --> 41:42.909 on their memories as a great honor 41:43.280 --> 41:45.447 along with doing the important work of 41:45.447 --> 41:47.629 assuring command and control of our 41:47.629 --> 41:50.729 forces . I mentioned that hundreds of 41:50.729 --> 41:53.169 bombers flew , flew missions into 41:53.169 --> 41:55.169 Europe . Uh , that could get pretty 41:55.169 --> 41:56.947 chaotic as you have several 100 41:56.947 --> 41:59.370 aircraft , um , trying to meet up . A 41:59.370 --> 42:01.489 well organized formation was B-17's 42:01.489 --> 42:03.545 best defense , and to help them find 42:03.545 --> 42:05.600 their spot in their formation , each 42:05.600 --> 42:07.929 unit had a geometric symbol painted on 42:07.929 --> 42:10.151 their tails with a letter in the middle 42:10.151 --> 42:12.318 of it . Pilots would climb through the 42:12.318 --> 42:14.810 clouds , uh , with their bombers to 42:14.810 --> 42:17.639 find the right tail insignia . The 95th 42:17.639 --> 42:21.570 Bob group . Heavy aircraft had a square 42:21.570 --> 42:23.792 with a B on the inside of it painted on 42:23.792 --> 42:25.903 their tails . We've adopted that same 42:25.903 --> 42:29.300 iconography to use and hence , um , why 42:29.300 --> 42:31.850 it has been , why it's been prominently 42:31.850 --> 42:35.629 displayed here today . We also , 42:35.669 --> 42:37.891 um , we're also working to get approval 42:37.891 --> 42:40.002 to , uh , to use a modernized version 42:40.002 --> 42:42.002 of the 95th Bomb group World War II 42:42.002 --> 42:44.110 emblem at the uh and uh and at the 42:44.110 --> 42:46.110 bottom of the patch is the motto 42:46.110 --> 42:48.469 Justice with victory . That motto is 42:48.469 --> 42:50.469 indicative of why the United States 42:50.469 --> 42:52.360 fought during World War II . The 42:52.360 --> 42:54.471 Germans fought for world domination . 42:54.750 --> 42:56.972 The Russians fought for revenge because 42:56.972 --> 42:59.139 they were portrayed by their friends , 42:59.139 --> 43:01.580 the Germans . The English fought for 43:01.580 --> 43:03.810 defense . But America fought for 43:03.810 --> 43:05.921 something different . While we were , 43:05.979 --> 43:08.780 while we may have had some revenge , uh , 43:08.810 --> 43:10.909 uh , motivation in the Pacific , the 43:10.909 --> 43:13.090 United States fought in Europe for 43:13.090 --> 43:16.330 justice . And that , and with victory , 43:16.489 --> 43:18.949 justice would follow , hence the motto 43:18.949 --> 43:21.729 justice with victory . The insignia 43:21.729 --> 43:24.370 highlights this by having a Justinian 43:24.370 --> 43:27.399 cross , uh , uh , as the main feature . 43:27.810 --> 43:29.866 You may , uh , you may not know this 43:29.866 --> 43:32.088 about me , um , people who know me well 43:32.088 --> 43:34.310 know that I'm a big history nerd , um , 43:34.310 --> 43:36.532 so much so that I named my dog Pericles 43:36.532 --> 43:38.643 after a general that lived 2400 years 43:38.643 --> 43:40.643 ago . Um , my wife loves to explain 43:40.643 --> 43:43.610 that at the dog park . The um the 43:43.610 --> 43:46.370 Justinian cross , um , and the , the 43:46.370 --> 43:48.481 Justinian that that brought about the 43:48.481 --> 43:51.129 cross was a Roman emperor 1500 years 43:51.129 --> 43:53.073 ago that was trying to restore the 43:53.073 --> 43:55.073 empire . Roman laws had fallen into 43:55.073 --> 43:57.073 disuse and he codified a new set of 43:57.073 --> 43:59.351 laws focused on justice for the people . 43:59.810 --> 44:01.643 The Justinian cross on the patch 44:01.643 --> 44:04.270 signifies signifies Justinian's focus 44:04.270 --> 44:07.360 of justice , just like the motto . Also , 44:07.399 --> 44:09.566 the patch has a red feather across the 44:09.566 --> 44:11.732 front of it . Uh , this is a symbol of 44:11.732 --> 44:11.679 courage , and if you studied 8th Air 44:11.679 --> 44:14.360 Force or in World War II or seen the 44:14.360 --> 44:16.193 Apple TV , uh , show that , uh , 44:16.360 --> 44:18.471 General Armagast mentioned Masters of 44:18.471 --> 44:20.582 the Air , you understand the focus on 44:20.582 --> 44:22.804 courage . It took a lot to climb into a 44:22.804 --> 44:25.360 B-17 . That , uh , felt a lot like a 44:25.360 --> 44:27.719 tin can filled with fuel and bombs to 44:27.719 --> 44:29.941 fly 700 miles while people are shooting 44:29.941 --> 44:33.229 at you the whole way . Similarly , the 44:33.229 --> 44:35.396 men and women of the ninety-fifth wing 44:35.396 --> 44:37.618 and National Airborne Operations Center 44:37.618 --> 44:39.618 provide their services to stand and 44:39.618 --> 44:41.709 fight on America's worst day . If we 44:41.709 --> 44:43.931 come under attack , those serving under 44:43.931 --> 44:46.042 the insignia will make sure that they 44:46.042 --> 44:48.265 do everything possible to make sure our 44:48.265 --> 44:49.931 leadership has the ability to 44:49.931 --> 44:52.153 communicate with our forces even during 44:52.153 --> 44:55.149 the absolute worst circumstances . What 44:55.149 --> 44:57.205 we do is incredibly important to our 44:57.205 --> 44:59.260 nation , but we are happiest when we 44:59.260 --> 45:02.350 are not doing our job for real . We 45:02.350 --> 45:04.629 prefer to focus on deterrence and 45:04.629 --> 45:06.740 prepare for the worst day rather than 45:06.740 --> 45:09.149 having to live it . It is a tremendous 45:09.149 --> 45:11.482 honor to activate the ninety-fifth wing , 45:11.560 --> 45:13.504 um , continue with this incredible 45:13.504 --> 45:15.949 mission with the best people in the 45:15.949 --> 45:19.149 military has the offer and to carry on 45:19.149 --> 45:20.927 the memories and lineage of the 45:20.927 --> 45:22.871 ninety-fifth Bomb group as the Air 45:22.871 --> 45:25.110 Force's newest wing , the 95th wing . 45:25.510 --> 45:27.566 The men and women of the 95th worked 45:27.566 --> 45:29.621 tirelessly to master their trade and 45:29.621 --> 45:31.843 provide unique services to the nation , 45:31.843 --> 45:33.843 and it's an honor to guide them and 45:33.843 --> 45:35.899 lead them . Thank you , Justice with 45:35.899 --> 45:34.870 victory . 45:51.870 --> 45:53.814 At this time , Colonel Lamont will 45:53.814 --> 45:55.926 present flowers to his spouse , Mrs . 45:55.926 --> 45:57.926 Wendy Lamont , as a welcome gift on 45:57.926 --> 45:59.870 behalf of the men and women of the 45:59.870 --> 46:02.092 ninety-fifth Wing and National Airborne 46:02.092 --> 46:01.550 Operations Center . 46:11.729 --> 46:15.719 Thank you , Colonel Lamont . Ladies and 46:15.719 --> 46:17.941 gentlemen , at this time , Colonel John 46:17.941 --> 46:19.886 Mollison , United States Air Force 46:19.886 --> 46:22.052 retired , would like to make a special 46:22.052 --> 46:24.163 presentation to the ninety-fifth wing 46:24.163 --> 46:26.108 on behalf of the ninety-fifth Bomb 46:26.108 --> 46:28.052 Group Heavy Memorials Foundation . 46:44.320 --> 46:46.530 Morning , General Armagast , Colonel 46:46.530 --> 46:48.586 Lamont , Chief Moore , distinguished 46:48.586 --> 46:50.141 visitors and members of the 46:50.141 --> 46:52.419 ninety-fifth wing , and honored guests . 46:52.419 --> 46:54.719 Congratulations to you and to the 46:54.719 --> 46:57.110 ninety-fifth wing on this milestone day . 46:57.979 --> 46:59.979 It is a privilege to be with you on 46:59.979 --> 47:02.035 this important occasion to represent 47:02.035 --> 47:04.257 the thousands of Americans . Members of 47:04.257 --> 47:06.479 the World War II 95th bomb group as the 47:06.479 --> 47:08.340 95th wing is activated with the 47:08.340 --> 47:10.909 historic legacy those men so violently 47:10.909 --> 47:13.110 built throughout the treacherous skies 47:13.110 --> 47:15.550 over Europe . The activation of the 47:15.550 --> 47:19.000 95th once again . To serve in the 47:19.000 --> 47:21.320 defense of our nation is a testament to 47:21.320 --> 47:22.876 the hard-earned and storied 47:22.876 --> 47:24.598 accomplishments of this highly 47:24.598 --> 47:27.189 decorated unit . I bring greetings from 47:27.189 --> 47:29.411 our President , Mr . Toby Mumford , who 47:29.411 --> 47:31.639 is unable to attend today's event . As 47:32.300 --> 47:34.411 mentioned previously , Mr . Mumford's 47:34.411 --> 47:36.578 father was a command pilot leading the 47:36.578 --> 47:38.689 95th bomb group on the first daylight 47:38.689 --> 47:40.689 bombing raid of Berlin on March 4 , 47:40.689 --> 47:43.840 1944 . Joining us today are members of 47:43.840 --> 47:46.007 our foundation representing the nearly 47:46.007 --> 47:48.840 650 members , descendants , friends , 47:48.889 --> 47:51.080 and veterans of the 95th Bond Group 47:51.080 --> 47:53.600 Memorials Foundation , and the 47:53.600 --> 47:56.560 successor to the original 95th Bond 47:56.560 --> 47:58.479 Group Association founded by the 47:58.479 --> 48:01.800 veterans after World War II . Today the 48:01.800 --> 48:04.860 mission . The foundation is to maintain 48:04.860 --> 48:07.620 the memorials 6 memorials across our 48:07.620 --> 48:09.787 country and in England , keeping alive 48:09.787 --> 48:11.787 the memory of this highly decorated 48:11.787 --> 48:14.139 unit and to educate future generations 48:14.489 --> 48:16.489 about the accomplishments of these 48:16.489 --> 48:18.860 valiant heroes . General Armas , 48:19.020 --> 48:21.187 Colonel Lamont , would you please come 48:21.187 --> 48:22.409 to the center stage . 48:25.149 --> 48:27.149 The Foundation board of directors , 48:27.149 --> 48:29.316 upon learning from Colonel Lumont that 48:29.316 --> 48:31.093 the ninety-fifth wing was to be 48:31.093 --> 48:33.580 activated , voted to present this gift 48:33.580 --> 48:35.659 to foster the ties to the wing's 48:35.659 --> 48:36.689 storied legacy . 48:53.909 --> 48:55.853 Depicted our emblems of the flying 48:55.853 --> 48:57.580 units associated with the 95th 48:57.580 --> 48:59.659 surrounding an original painting by 48:59.659 --> 49:01.699 retired Air Force Colonel Harry W . 49:01.860 --> 49:04.310 Redding , co-pilot of the in the 412 49:04.310 --> 49:07.659 squadron . The painting is of a B-52 , 49:08.310 --> 49:11.429 B17G aircraft , excuse me , named Warn 49:11.429 --> 49:13.459 Bill flying over Horam Air Base . 49:14.189 --> 49:16.245 Colonel Redding , as a young pilot , 49:16.245 --> 49:18.830 flew 15 of his 35 missions in this inn 49:18.830 --> 49:21.189 Bill . The painting was presented to my 49:21.189 --> 49:23.245 father-in-law Ted Dehardt by Colonel 49:23.245 --> 49:26.179 Redding . Mr . Deart was an 18-year-old 49:26.179 --> 49:28.629 tail gunner in the 412 squadron and 49:28.629 --> 49:30.540 flew two of his 27 missions in 49:30.540 --> 49:33.320 Roarnville . This aircraft flew a total 49:33.320 --> 49:35.469 of 96 missions before being lost to 49:35.469 --> 49:38.790 enemy action over Berlin over Germany . 49:39.500 --> 49:41.929 In closing , the ninety-fifth Bond 49:41.929 --> 49:43.429 Group Memorials Foundation 49:43.429 --> 49:45.596 congratulates the ninety-fifth wing on 49:45.596 --> 49:47.318 this special day and are fully 49:47.318 --> 49:49.373 confident that you will build on the 49:49.373 --> 49:51.485 legacy of the ninety-fifth Bond Group 49:51.485 --> 49:53.596 as you perform your critical missions 49:53.596 --> 49:55.596 in defense of our nation . We stand 49:55.596 --> 49:57.707 ready to support and partner with you 49:57.707 --> 50:00.050 if called upon as you build on the 50:00.050 --> 50:02.272 legacy of this proud unit . We wish you 50:02.272 --> 50:04.383 the best as you carry the flag of the 50:04.383 --> 50:05.883 95th forward . Thank you . 50:17.090 --> 50:19.350 It So . 50:24.449 --> 50:26.616 Thank you , Colonel Mollison . The men 50:26.616 --> 50:28.560 and women of the ninety-fifth wing 50:28.560 --> 50:30.782 extend their heartfelt gratitude to the 50:30.782 --> 50:33.005 ninety-fifth Bomb Group Heavy Memorials 50:33.005 --> 50:34.671 Foundation for this beautiful 50:34.671 --> 50:36.838 commemoration of our honored history . 50:37.850 --> 50:39.794 Ladies and gentlemen , the men and 50:39.794 --> 50:41.906 women of the former 595th Command and 50:41.906 --> 50:43.906 Control Group and National Airborne 50:43.906 --> 50:45.906 Operations Center are very proud to 50:45.906 --> 50:47.961 have served with Colonel Hook as its 50:47.961 --> 50:49.906 commander , and we look forward to 50:49.906 --> 50:51.906 continuing to serve with him in the 50:51.906 --> 50:54.017 ninety-fifth wing . We are honored to 50:54.017 --> 50:53.689 welcome back Colonel Lamont and his 50:53.689 --> 50:55.856 family as he begins his command of the 50:55.856 --> 50:57.969 ninety-fifth wing in NAYOC today . We 50:57.969 --> 51:00.191 invite everyone to attend the reception 51:00.191 --> 51:02.413 immediately following the ceremony here 51:02.413 --> 51:04.580 in the hangar . We ask that you remain 51:04.580 --> 51:06.469 standing for the departure of the 51:06.469 --> 51:08.691 official party and their families , and 51:08.691 --> 51:08.550 that you remain in place until they 51:08.550 --> 51:09.550 have departed . 51:38.510 --> 51:40.621 Ladies and gentlemen , this concludes 51:40.621 --> 51:42.788 our ceremony . Thank you for attending 51:42.788 --> 51:44.788 and have a great day . Justice with 51:44.788 --> 51:44.100 victory .