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USAF AMMOS Celebrates 10th Anniversary, graduates 25th class

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  • By Capt. Jeremy McCraney
  • AMMOS Instructor
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- --  On Nov. 20, 2012, the U. S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School celebrated its 10th anniversary of expanding combat capability in the U. S. Air Force with the graduation of Combat Support Course Class 12B. Class 12B is the 25th class to graduate from USAF AMMOS since the school opened its doors in 2002. The graduates, all from various maintenance and munitions units across the Air Force, will go back to their units to produce, instruct and advise in all aspects of effects-based logistics.

"AMMOS is an advanced combat support school which educates our best young maintenance leaders in the execution of Agile Combat Support by focusing on the integration of operational requirements, maintenance capabilities and logistics processes, said Lt. Col. Brian Moore, USAF AMMOS commandant.

"Our students are competitively selected to attend AMMOS by our career field development team. They have demonstrated the greatest potential to serve in the graduate role of expanding combat capability across the Air Force. I'm confident that this investment in a world class education for these young maintenance officers will combine with their drive to excel to benefit the Air Force for years to come."

USAF AMMOS was established as a result of experience gained from Operation ALLIED FORCE. During the air war, former (and now retired) Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper, then the U. S. Air Forces Europe commander, noted a need for mid-level logistics officers to have enhanced logistics knowledge similar to what operators receive from the U. S. Air Force Weapons School.

In December 2000, a CORONA tasker directed the development of advanced logistics officer training. The following June, Gen. Jumper, then Air Combat Command commander, approved the "stand up" of the school at Nellis AFB, as a part of the 57th Fighter Wing. The mission was to train selected mid-level Captain logisticians in the integration of expeditionary logistics processes at the tactical level.

The first class of 12 students, comprised of aircraft maintenance, munitions, logistics planners and supply officers, graduated in June 2003. Now, aircraft maintenance and munitions officers attend the 15-week Combat Support Course at AMMOS while Logistics Readiness Officers attend the Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course at the Expeditionary Center, Fort Dix, N.J.

The CSC provides mid-level captains the ability to produce combat airpower, execute mission requirements, educate others and develops the critical thinking skills required to win today's fight while preparing to fly, fight and win the wars of tomorrow. This investment has taught these twelve students leadership, critical thinking and the operational art of maintenance and logistics. The graduates are now experts on fleet health management, maintaining unit readiness, sortie generation, flying hour program planning and execution, munitions operations and logistics command and control. This expertise will allow the graduates of AMMOS CSC Class 12B to meet--and shape--the challenges of tomorrow.
"I am extremely proud of this class. Theycame together as a strong team and mastered aircraft and munitions maintenance tactics, techniques and procedures. I am looking forward to hearing back from these graduates as to how they are applying what they learned at AMMOS to their home station jobs. I have no doubt they will enhance the maintenance community by fulfilling their AMMOS graduate roles of being producers, instructors, and advisors," said Major Jennifer Gurganus, USAF AMMOS director of operations.

To mark the occasion, Retired Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski served as a class mentor and graduation guest speaker.

"USAF AMMOS graduates represent the very best and brightest aircraft and munitions maintenance officers in our United States Air Force" said Gabreski. "From the beginning, through their curriculum, USAF AMMOS has charged these future leaders of our Air Force to create world class organizations that are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. AMMOS will continue to refine solid maintenance practices across the Air Force for years to come."

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