Force Support Squadron replaces Mission Support, Services squadrons

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lauren Wright
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Ellsworth activated the 28th Force Support Squadron during a ceremony here at Dakota's Club April 11.

The squadron represents a merger between the 28th Services Squadron and 28th Mission Support Squadron, which were deactivated prior to the 28th FSS stand-up.

The Air Force is looking for opportunities to join similar entities and functions, rather than having them work separately, said Maj. Patrick Whelan, 28th FSS commander. This is the main rationale for the merger.

Casualty affairs and mortuary affairs worked closely, but fell under different squadrons. Each cares for the families of fallen warriors and will now be one team.

"These functions have always worked well, but separately," Maj. Whelan said. "Under the merger, these offices will blend together."

Organizationally, the base library and education and training office will be in the same flight. A different flight will be composed of the new military personnel element (which opened in March), manpower, non-appropriated human resources, and civilian personnel.

The term synergy can be a cliché sometimes, but in cases where we collocate and blend similar programs and functions, we truly hope to create synergy, and better service, Major Whelan said.

This initiative is not something unique to Ellsworth.

The new organization is the result of an ongoing Air Force-wide merger of mission support and services squadrons and is expected to be completed when the last base merges its A1 Squadrons in 2010.

Six Air Force bases across six commands were selected early last year to test the new squadron model. The test bases (Edwards, Eielson, F. E. Warren, Grand Forks, Laughlin and Minot), helped establish where specific responsibilities and processes should be placed within the organizational structure and how they should be set up.

"The idea is to streamline processes and cut costs while maintaining the programs, community support and quality of life services each squadron provided separately," said Col. Renita Alexander, 28th Mission Support Group commander, in a speech during the ceremony. "The FSS will capitalize on the talent within these squadrons to ensure the combatant commander, as well as our forces and their families, are properly supported."

Editor's Note: Maj. Clint Ross, 17th Mission Support Squadron commander, contributed to this article.