Out with the old and in with the new

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tiffany Trojca
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Along with the F-22A Raptor come new members of Team Holloman to fly and maintain the aircraft new Airmen are welcomed and Holloman bids farewell to those trained to maintain the F-117 as they head off to train at Langley Air Force Base, V.A. 

At the heart of the process was the 49th Mission Support Group. 

Airman 1st Class Catherine Gates, 49 Mission Support Squadron, said during the months of December 2007, and January 2008, there was an increase of personnel permanently changing duty stations. While their office usually handles around 60 to 90 outbound assignments, that number increased by about 90 additional assignments. 

"One wrong can mess up a thousand rights; one mistake can be responsible for orders being completely amended," said Airman Gates. 

Senior Airman Marian Pimentel, 49 MSS, who works on inbound assignments for the 49th Maintenance Squadron, said the rush of incoming F-22 Raptor has doubled her workload. 

"We've been really busy with the incoming F-22 personnel but we try to be really positive. It is the friendliest place on Earth, after all!" she said. 

Airman Pimentel also admitted that she was sad about the retirement of the F-117 Nighthawk but really excited about the F-22 coming to Holloman.