Gulfport CRTC change of command

GULFPORT, Miss. – Colonel Joe Reid relinquished command of the Mississippi Air National Guard’s Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport to Lt. Col Berry McCormick. The incoming commander is an electrical engineering graduate of Mississippi State University. Prior to taking command, he had been CRTC’s director of support since September 2014. McCormick enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard in 1988 as a Search Scope Operator with the 255th Tactical Control Squadron at Gulfport. In May 2005, he assumed command of the 209th Civil Engineer Squadron at Gulfport. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and in November 2010, he transferred to the 253rd Air Support Squadron at Meridian, Miss., where he served as a director. In May 2013, McCormick deployed to the United Arab Emirates as commander of the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron. The CRTC hosts regular deployments of Air National Guard units, and offers offshore airspace that is fully instrumented (ACMI) for recording air-to-air engagements. Nearby Camp Shelby, Miss., features an air-to-ground range and sufficient low-altitude MOA airspace to provide realistic ground attack scenarios. Outgoing commander, Col. Reid was to take command of the 186th Air Refueling Wing in Meridian. He called it “going back to his home roots.” One of the duties of the 18th ARW is to perform maintenance on KC-135 refueling aircraft. (Source: WLOX 08/03/19) The CRTC has two Mississippi ANG tenants on base: 255th Air Control Squadron (ACS) and 209th Civil Engineering Squadron. The 209th began augmenting an Air Force "Silver Flag" Training Program at Tyndall AFB, Fla., in 2000. When activated for active-duty service, the 209th falls under the jurisdiction of the Air Force Special Operations Command, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla.