History

[waynesawyer]

The 1314th Ground Combat Readiness Exercise Evaluation Squadron (GCRES) was activated on 1 Aug 1984. The Commander was Capt Lawrence R. Lane, and the Operations Officer was Capt Charles W. Morris. MSgt Kenneth W. MacLeod was Superintendent and Administration support was provided by TSgt Frank Griffin. The Cadre was divided into two squads.

SQUAD #1
TSgt Paul Worthy
TSgt David Broadaway
TSgt David McDaniels
SSgt Michael Calhoun
Sgt John Fields
SrA Clay Kirk

SQUAD #2
TSgt Donald Crawford
TSgt Dicky Johnson
TSgt Paul Harris
SSgt Jim Bradsher
Sgt Gregory Dyer

Since its activation, the 1314 GCRES has increased from 15 persons to its present strength of 61 personnel, not only consisting of Security Police, but Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, Independent Duty Medical Technicians, Mobile Aerial Port Squadron, Readiness In Base Services, Vehicle Maintenance, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Personnel Specialists, Aerial Audio Visual Services, and Vehicle Mechanics. Since its activation, GCRES has deployed for real world situations to Operation URGENT FURY, Sicily, and Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Major deployment exercises have been made to Lajes Field, Azores, Rhein Main AB, Germany, and Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

In August 1987, Capt Dale Hewitt became the second squadron commander replacing Major Lawrence Lane. In June 1990, Major Hewitt was replaced as squadron commander by Major John Short.

Such dignitaries as Senators Barry Goldwater, J. Wilbur Fulbright, Congressman Les Aspin, Generals H. T. Johnson, Larry Welch, Duane Cassidy, and Thomas Ryan have visited the Squadron.

The 1314 GCRES has been successful in the AMC Security Police Competitions for the past three years, and has placed overall first in 1989 and 1991, and overall second in 1992. Our medics recently received an outstanding rating from USAF/IG during a Health Services Medical Inspection.

The GCRES area has grown from a pole barn, tents with wood floors and dug out latrines to a self sustaining base on a base with wooden hootches that are panelled and have air conditioning, a class room with central heat and air, cadre building, supply, motor pool, medical clinic, armory and dining facility. Our resources have tripled from a few M-151 Jeeps to over 50 High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles, 4 2 1/2 ton trucks, and 40 Carrier Light Auxiliary Weapons Systems.

On June 1st 1992, the nickname "VOLANT SCORPION" was replaced with PHOENIX ACE” since all Military Airlift Command programs changed to reflect a new command rising from the ashes “Air Mobility Command.” “PHOENIX ACE”. 314 GCRES drives on with additional facilities being built, Firearms Training System on-line, additional cadre positions for Combat Camera and possible future of PRIME BEEF being added to the program. The outlook is clear for “PHOENIX ACE,” meet the needs of a changing USAF.

Civic tours from as far away as Washington D.C. and Phoenix, AZ have toured the facilities. The local community has been exposed to the weapons displays set up at the Little Rock AFB Open House and the McCain Mall in North Little Rock.

Legacy-

The USAF Expeditionary Operations School is the Air Force Expeditionary Combat Support Center of Excellence dedicated to educate, train and exercise expeditionary combat support personnel in deployed operations. The EOS is responsible for developing and conducting Air Force Exercise Eagle Flag and the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course. EOS includes a resources and plans section, and has operational control of the 421st Combat Training Squadron.

AMWC’s 421st Training Squadron (TS) took on the mission of the 314th Ground Combat Readiness Evaluation Squadron, Little Rock AFB, AR. The 421st TS was redesignated 421st Ground Combat Readiness Squadron on 1 December 1997.
(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... f/amwc.htm).

The Center operated the Phoenix Raven course for Security Forces and the Phoenix Readiness course that trained more than 20 Air Force specialties in expeditionary combat support. The Center has now grown to be the Air Force's leader in expeditionary training. http://www.amc.af.mil/library/factsheet ... sp?id=7593[/url]