Brecount takes reins of 434th AMXS Published Jan. 8, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Most young enlisted Airmen probably can't envision commanding their unit one day, but one determined Grissom maintainer made it happen. Maj. Joel Brecount took command of the 434th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during an assumption of command ceremony in Dock 1 here recently. Brecount relinquished command of the 434th Maintenance Operations Flight before taking over the 434th AMXS command for Maj. Timothy Bartlett. "I have a great respect for the previous commander, and I worked as his number two for a while, so I can say this is an excellent unit," said Brecount, who previously served as the 434th AMXS deputy commander under Bartlett before taking the 434th MOF command. "My job is to help sustain that excellence." Col. Paul Weimer, 434th Maintenance Group commander, presided over the change of command and remarked why he felt the major will make an excellent commander for his new unit. "Major Brecount grew up in A-maintenance, in fact he was an enlisted troop here, so he understands your culture," said Weimer to a group of 434th AMXS and 434th MOF Airmen. Brecount recalled those early years before earning his commission. "That is where I came from," he said. "I spent four years on active duty as an enlisted aircraft electrician, and then I went to the (Air Force Reserve's) 930th Tactical Fighter Wing here before rolling into the 434th AMXS." Looking back at his enlisted service in aircraft maintenance, Brecount made note of how not only he, but several other enlisted Airmen are now in leadership positions throughout the 434th Maintenance Group. "It's unique...Chief (Master Sgt. Chad) Weisend and I were electricians together, and Chief (Master Sgt. Kevin) Cassidy lived across the hall in the dorms from me," he recalled. "I have a lot of history with people I'm coworkers with, and it's amazing to see all of us at the other end of that career cycle." Weisend is now the 434th AMXS superintendent, and Cassidy is the current 434th Maintenance Squadron superintendent. However, it's not just a shared history that Brecount said he brings to the 434th AMXS. "I have a knowledge of how things actually work, how much the Airmen have to know about the planes and how difficult it is to learn the technical aspects of the job in midst of all the ancillary training and exercises," he explained. "It takes years to be and expert on these jets, I have that perspective, and hopefully that translates something useful." The 434th AMXS is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
