Subscribe
The U.S. Air Force 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron conducted a “flag swap,” a ceremony marking the switching of headquarters, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 13, 2025. The ceremony signified the relocation of the 3rd ASOS headquarters from Fort Wainwright to JBER.
Before the flag swap, the 3rd ASOS team on JBER operated as a detachment (Det 1) to ASOS headquarters, and operated out of Fort Wainwright. Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the squadron will be restructured with Fort Wainwright housing a detachment to support the hosting Army brigade while the main body – consisting of command/key leader functions, ops flights, and support flights – is housed at JBER.
“For us, this is the first step toward our unit being consolidated at JBER,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. David Hatch, Special Warfare Mission Support superintendent. “We’ve been operating as a squadron/detachment since 2009.”
This switching of headquarters came about for a few reasons, one of which was vital communication with Army forces at JBER.
“This allows our squadron to directly interface with 11th Airborne Division staff,” said Hatch. “This is important because as a Tactical Air Control Party squadron, one of the things we are responsible for is advising ground commanders on the best use of air power.”
In conjunction with supporting and advising Army forces on JBER, 3 ASOS can also work closely with higher headquarters. “It allows for maximum unity of effort with the 11th Air Force and evolving mission sets aimed at solving U.S. Air Force problems in the Pacific,” said Hatch. “This is a shift from norms of only supporting sister services.”
This swap of headquarters location coincided with a change in leadership as U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Sibal passed command to incoming commander of the newly established JBER squadron, Lt. Col. Reid Inman. Those attending the ceremony included members of the 354th Fighter Wing command team from Eielson AFB, 1st Air Support Operations Group from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and 3rd ASOS.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2025 11:55 |
| Story ID: | 545959 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 3rd ASOS conducts flag swap, consolidating special warfare power at JBER, by SrA Johnny Diaz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
