Homestead units to unite

  • Published
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Effective Dec. 1, Reservists serving in the 482nd Mission Support and Services Squadron's will realign as the 482nd Force Support Squadron.
 
A mix of mission support and services units received authorization Oct. 15 to inactivate or change their unit designation. The result is the establishment of 29 force support squadrons in the Air Force Reserve Command.

"The new squadrons are a zero-sum gain," said Maj. Charles Knapp, action officer at Headquarters AFRC Directorate of Manpower, Personnel and Services. "We streamlined two base support functions under one command structure to improve efficiencies. Aside from the name change, the impact to customers will be seamless."

Major Knapp said AFRC modeled its program on lessons learned from the FSS reorganization in the Regular Air Force and the command's provisional units. Over the past two years, the command evaluated the concept at four active-duty bases and three command installations.

"The test bases did the heavy lifting by identifying areas unique to the Air Force Reserve, such as position descriptions for air reserve technicians and civilians," Knapp said. "They provided critical information and insight into the future state FSS."

To help move the process forward, AFRC/A1 Plans and Integration Division hosted "huddles" to explain the FSS structure to the units. Half of the units met in Macon, Ga., in March, and the other half gathered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, in August, where they received "FSS in a Box." The box contained implementation tools - checklists, programming plans, organizational charts, ceremony scripts, etc. - to help the units make the transition to new organizational structure.

"This merger will allow the two squadrons to streamline processes, increase efficiencies, maximize customer service and cut costs associated with maintaining two separate squadrons," said Capt. Christy Shaw, 482nd MSS commander.  "We are looking forward to joining forces and providing the absolute best customer service possible."

Capt. Shaw said the FSS will consist of three flights; Manpower & Personnel Flight, Sustainment Services Flight, Force Development Flight and Airman and Family Services.