653rd CLSS to inactivate, celebrate legacy Published July 17, 2009 By Wayne Crenshaw 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- For 42 years the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron has been the place to work for aircraft maintainers with a taste for adventure. The unit, which started at Robins in 1967 as the 2955th CLSS, travels the globe for major repairs on planes with combat or crash damage. But its storied history is coming to an end on Aug. 5, when the unit is scheduled for inactivation. However, the unit's mission will live on at Robins. When the inactivation was announced two years ago, the group had over 300 personnel, all military. Right now it has 95 people, and after the inactivation, 56 of those will form a new unit called the Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight in the 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group. It will do the same work, just with less people. "We are going to change in size and name but we are going to retain the capability," said Maj. Joseph Giuliani, commander of the 653rd CLSS. An inactivation ceremony is set for Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. in the base theater. A dinner is planned at the Museum of Aviation that night for alumni of the group, and there is already considerable interest. Major Giuliani said 150 people gave R.S.V.P.s for the dinner within days of the invitations going out. Major Giuliani said that's an indication that service in the unit is not just another stop in a career. "I think there is a lot of pride and camaraderie with the people who have been a part this unit," he said. "It has always been a highly skilled, highly trained, well- organized unit." The unit has remained busy in the field and will remain so up until the deactivation, he said. It currently has teams in San Antonio, England and Norway. Most of the work the group does is for crash damage; very little is for battle damage. The squadron also sends teams to do major repairs that are beyond the capability of the units that operate the aircraft. The unit has an active alumni association, and word has gotten around quickly about the upcoming ceremony and dinner, Maj. Giuliani said. "They've built strong ties over the years," he said. "I think it's because the work they do is unique. There is a great sense of helping the war effort and a great sense of satisfaction when we complete the jobs that we are tasked to do. "There's really not a lot of people in aircraft maintenance that see that kind of training we do to do this kind of work." At one time there were five combat logistics support squadrons, with each air logistics center having one to support the aircraft assigned to that center. After the 653rd inactivates, the only one left will be at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. That one is scheduled for inactivation in October. The move to inactivate the units in favor of smaller versions is part of a cost-cutting measure. But Major Giuliani said morale has been high in the unit despite the pending inactivation. "Definitely, people are sad to see the squadron close," he said. "It's been a great assignment for everyone that's been involved, but at the same time, they are motivated to press on make sure that we close the squadron with a ceremony that honors all those that served in the unit. We realize the legacy that has been left of the past 42 years here."