16th Munitions Squadron activated at Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 16th Munitions Squadron was officially activated at Malmstrom Aug. 4 in an assumption of command ceremony in the 3-Bay Hangar. 

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Pruss accepted command of the 62-person unit from Col. David Milner, commander of the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group based at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. The 16th MUNS is one of three squadrons that make up the 798th MUMG. The other two are the 15th MUNS at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., which was also activated Aug. 4 and Detachment 1 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., which was activated Aug. 5. Command over all of these units will transfer to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. 

"This ceremony represents a new era in weapons management leadership," Colonel Milner said. "It is an important event in the history of the United States Air Force." 

Colonel Milner told those attending that the Air Force has become "a culture of nuclear surety 24/7," and that "failure is not an option." He also said the squadron and shifting of command is necessary, in part, because "the nuclear enterprise is under tremendous scrutiny" from the American public, the government and military leaders. 

As part of a realignment of organizational responsibilities, the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed transfer of weapons storage area logistics operations responsibilities from Air Force Space Command to the AFNWC. 

The consolidation of the weapons storage area logistics operations under the AFNWC will provide nuclear mission oversight in order to dramatically improve focus and provide clear lines of authority for the nuclear mission, according to officials at Kirtland AFB. 

The new commander of the 16th MUNS comes to the squadron with a wealth of munitions and command background, having served as a squadron commander three times prior to this selection and logging more than seven years in positions directly tied to munitions. 

"This is a great day for me and it is my distinct honor to stand up the 16th MUNS," Colonel Pruss said after accepting the squadron guidon." Colonel Milner, I won't let you down. And Colonel Fortney, I won't let you down either." 

Members of the squadron have been at Malmstrom since mid-May working to attain their full end-strength personnel number of 62. After being presented with his new squadron, Colonel Pruss thanked each member for their hard work and dedication, and reminded them of the significance of their positions. 

"What you do every day is the most important job in the Air Force," he said. "I know what you are made of and it is my honor to be your commander." 

Acknowledging there are challenges ahead, Colonel Pruss felt the biggest challenge at hand would be to maintain the standards and meet the wing's mission requirements.
"I think that the nuclear enterprise, as a whole, has had an awakening to a more scrutinizing standard. We are well on our way - and are meeting those standards," Colonel Pruss said. "The challenge then becomes not to become complacent."