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NEWS | April 11, 2008

New force support squadron stands up

By Master Sgt. Sean Houlihan 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Team Charleston now has one squadron on base that will handle all people, community support and quality of life programs. The 437th Force Support Squadron officially stood up April 10 at a ceremony here.

The new organization is the result of an ongoing Air Force-wide merger of mission support and services squadrons. The new organization began implementation at six test bases around the Air Force since early 2007.

"With the force cuts the Air Force had under Presidential Budget Directive 720, it was necessary to combine the similar functions of the two squadrons," Maj. John Silverman, 437 FSS commander. "The bottom line is the mission of the two squadrons was to take care of Airmen, family members, retirees and veterans; and now under one command structure, we'll continue to do so."

Some of the similar functions the commander pointed out included the mission support squadron had a casualty affairs office and services had a mortuary affairs office. The MSS had professional military education training and the education office while services had the library. The Airmen and Family Readiness Center and family services programs were separated as well.

He said the two organizations always worked well together but knows being integrated into one large enterprise will increase the capability for their customers here at Charleston.

The creation of the 437 FSS should initially be transparent to customers except for the point signs around base will change from SVS and MSS to FSS. During the entire merger, customer services capabilities were not closed in order for the merger to occur.

The new FSS includes five flights: Force Development, Manpower and Personnel, Airmen and Family Services, Sustainment Services and Community Services. The new structure combines similar functional areas that already work closely together. For example, the Sustainment Services Flight contains the food operations, fitness and wellness, and lodging branches.

For the Airmen and civilians assigned to the unit, Major Silverman said he hopes to ultimately have one cohesive unit with them continuing to do the great things every day in their sections.

"I want them to have pride in the FSS knowing they have one mission, goal and vision of taking care of our customers since there are no better customers to have besides the ones we have here in our Airmen, families, retirees and civilians," the former 437 MSS commander said.

The merger is also advantageous for the careers of future force support officers and civilians.

"There is now a force support community for both officers and civilians with a clear progression track that wasn't available before," he said.

On the civilian side there was not a civilian deputy position and now the base community can develop civilians to be in that position. For officers there are five flights to command as a captain, and for a major, the new FSS has an operations officer.

The ceremony included Major Silverman relinquishing command of the 437th Mission Support Squadron and Lt. Col. Richard Sheetz relinquishing command of the 437th Services Squadron. While Major Silverman took command of the 437 FSS, Colonel Sheetz will become the 436th Mission Support Group deputy commander at Dover AFB, Del.

(Some information for the story was provided by Air Force Print News)