So I showed up at my downrange location to start my 365 deployment and the second thing I was told (after "no booze, sex, or porn") was that I was in charge of the Squadron Change of Command. Well, turns out it's not just a change of command. We're deactivating the current squadron and activating a new squadron under a new commander in its place. I tried reaching out to the Wing (located on another base) for guidance and both the Exec shop and the Protocol shop kind of shrugged their shoulders and said they could help if it was just a change of command but they don't know how to deal with a deactivation/activation. From the answers I've been getting, you'd think the Air Force had never done one of these before.

I'm hoping someone here can provide some kind of guidance. Specifically, I'm looking for how to do it in accordance with regs/AF customs. If you happen to have a script, that would be icing on the cake. Anyone know of any AFIs that cover this or anyone you can point me to that can shed some light?

Thanks in advance!

If you're in a deployed location why are they doing a ceremony? The new dude should show up and start working.

AFPAM 34-1202, para 14.6

If your wing protocol is useless, go higher than the wing. There should be a protocol office in the NAF or MAJCOM, and they should have info for you. Also, try contacting the first historian up the chain (Wing, NAF, MAJCOM). Depending on how well they keep records, they may have anything from general info to actual scripts from the event. They will probably also want to document the ceremonies.

They did that for us when we showed up in country this year. Deactivated the previous EFS and stood up our EFS. It was about the same as a COC ceremony. FWIW.

There was a civilian at grand forks named Roberta at the protocol office. She helped me deactivate a squadron. I don't know her last name but it is a small base and you could probably find her in outlook search. She had template scripts for everything.

They did that for us when we showed up in country this year. Deactivated the previous EFS and stood up our EFS. It was about the same as a COC ceremony. FWIW.

Ugh, really? What a waste of time in the AOR! But I'm sure somebody got a good OPR bullet for planning that one...

A downrange formal ceremony requesting the help of MAJCOM protocol.

Define downrange...

then choke yourself.

They did that for us when we showed up in country this year. Deactivated the previous EFS and stood up our EFS. It was about the same as a COC ceremony. FWIW.

Sounds about right. The old guildon should be furled and I believe cased. Also, there is an office somewhere that collects artifacts, possibly NMUSAF.