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582nd OSS Det 4 assumption of command

  • Published
  • By Chris Willis
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Maj. Bryant Bevan assumed command of the 582nd Operation Support Squadron, Detachment 4, by direction of Lt. Col. James Blanchard, 582nd OSS commander. Malmstrom Air Force Base held the 582nd OSS, Det. 4, assumption of command ceremony April 7, 2015.

The 582nd OSS will report to the first ever Air Force helicopter group that was activated March of this year. Falling under 20th Air Force, the 582nd Helicopter Group will assume operations from the 37th, 40th and 54th Helicopter Squadrons at Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, which also falls under Air Force Global Strike Command.

"This is an exciting time to a part of the 20th AF team and is clearly a time of change," Blanchard said. "Change for our missileers, our maintainers, our security forces, and of course our helicopter aviators."

The assumption of command is a result of the Force Improvement Program. The FIP is a grass-roots program that asks Airmen to improve mission effectiveness and morale by taking ownership of their mission through recommendations sent to their leadership.

"Adversity brings significant challenges but it also brings change," Blanchard said. "The establishment of the 582nd HG and the 582nd OSS are solely dedicated to this cause."

According to Col. Dave Smith, 582nd HG commander, the new group will be defined by three equalities: discipline, stewardship and collaboration.

"Discipline... the discipline I'm referring to is the discipline to commit to the warrior ethos," Smith said.  "Stewardship... We are not crewmembers temporarily assigned to the intercontinental ballistic missile mission; we are nuclear security experts, and we will accomplish our mission more effectively and more efficiently while reducing risk. Collaboration... Additionally we must continue to break out of our stove pipes and integrate with our security forces teammates that we support."

Bevan took time to acknowledge the long hours and weekends the detachment's family members have committed to the mission, and how much he truly appreciates the work this team brings to the AFGSC.

"For members of the detachment, I could not ask for a better team," Bevan said. "Your efforts have been vital in standing up a brand new unit from scratch, and that is an impressive accomplishment. However, this is not a mile stone of completion; instead it is a starting point with great things to come."