5th CS Airmen transfer to 91st MXG Published May 1, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Fifty-seven missile-communications Airmen have changed hats and patches but not jobs as they transfered from the 5th Communications Squadron to the 91st Maintenance Group. The move was part of an initiative by Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Deppe, 20th Air Force commander, to consolidate missile-communications assets. A transfer of personnel ceremony was held here May 2. "Basically, the idea is to get everyone who works on missiles to be under the same leadership," said Master Sgt. Derick Wilson, 5th CS branch chief for space systems. "This way continuity and efficiency are improved." Col. Raytheon Scott, 91st MXG commander, pointed out the uniqueness of this PCA. "While this PCA has already taken place at the other two 20th Air Force bases, this installation is the only one where there was a transition between major commands, so it's a big step," he said. According to Sergeant Wilson, the end goal of the PCA is to have the 5th CS's communications-electronics Airmen train the 91st MXG's missile maintainers on missile communications. The move is a "paper move" for now, as discussions of what elements will physically move are still progressing. Sergeant Wilson looks forward to the challenges the transition will bring. "There will be some growing pains, but in the end I think this is the right decision to make," he added. "I have no qualms about anything. The 91st MXG has been very helpful, and we're working well together." Additionally, the younger Airmen are taking things in stride. "It makes sense we're doing this," said new 91st MXG strategic-communications member Senior Airman James Jones. "We're looking forward to new training experiences and also the new equipment we'll get to use." Colonel Scott looks forward to accomplishing great things with his new Airmen. "We welcome them with open arms," he said. "This is more than just an exchanging of hats and patches. It's about the whole way we do business."