333rd TRS Mad Duck retires, yields to Spartan

Published April 14, 2011
By Capt. Magina Baonga
333rd Training Squadron

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Friday, the 333d Training Squadron said goodbye to an old friend when Lt. Col. Doug
Short officially "retired" the Mad Duck as the squadron mascot and welcomed a new mascot, the Spartan.

During the ceremony at the Bay Breeze Event Center, the Mad Duck was presented the
Meritorious Mascot Medal and a letter of appreciation praising him for 19 years of dedicated service to the squadron and the base. Key to squadron success during his tenure as mascot was his dogged determination displayed during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina and his oversight of the transformation from a support mission to an operational role with the introduction of the cyberspace domain and undergraduate cyber training.

After bidding farewell to the Mad Duck, the squadron was introduced to a new mascot, the Spartan. The Spartan was chosen to represent the squadron as it moves forward
in its mission of developing technical and operational warriors to dominate the cyberspace domain. The Spartan, selected as a strong and honorable mascot to rally the unit, also represents the evolution of cyberspace.

Squadron officials noted the image of the Spartan is very symbolic and draws many parallels to the Air Force's Airman's Creed. The Spartan was a warrior, selected from birth to train and defend his land. His shield symbolizes a cyber shield, representing
the Air Force's mission to defend the nation. The spear reminds the squadron's
members to fulfill their mission at the tip of the cyber spear when called upon to do
so. As a professional warrior, the Spartan was expected to complete his mission and
never let down the Spartan serving beside him, regardless of the consequences.

"It's a sad day to see the Mad Duck go but it's also exciting because the Spartan represents the new mindset of the warfighting spirit," said Master Sgt. Juan Mederos,
333rd TRS.

The squadron's director of operations, Maj. Richard Bingaman, believes that the new mascot "fits more with the warrior ethos that we want to instill in all of our Airmen."

Chief Master Sgt. Billy Abbott, 81st Training Group superintendent, said, "The change is a good thing with the evolution of our forces in to cyberspace."