CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. –
The New Year will again usher in major changes to your mission support squadron, but one thing will remain the same. Taking care of Charleston's Airmen and their Families will be our number one priority.
This spring, two squadrons in the mission support group will become one; the 437th Services Squadron will merge with the 437th Mission Support Squadron, creating Charleston's newest squadron, the 437th Force Support Squadron.
This is an exciting time to be a member of these two proud squadrons.
The merger of our two Airman and family focused units will allow us to achieve significant efficiencies, reduce redundancies and, most importantly, maximize our customer service to Charleston AFB. With the manpower reductions experienced by the manpower, personnel and services career fields, this merger ensures that Charleston's Airmen will continue to be able to concentrate on executing our mission, knowing they have a customer service oriented support structure in place.
This merger will be seamless and transparent to our Airmen and their families. The name will change, but the services and mission support that you depend on, deserve and have earned will improve.
The synergies and efficiencies can best be seen within the force support squadron's organizational structure. The coming together of complimentary missions and processes between the two squadrons is best illustrated by describing the five flights that will be realized after the merger.
The force development flight brings together education and training, the library, Airman Leadership School and the First Term Airman Center. The manpower & personnel flight combines base readiness, manpower, civilian and military personnel and non-appropriated fund human resources functions. The airmen and family services flight merges the Airman and Family Readiness Center, youth programs, child development programs, and family child care. The sustainment service flight incorporates the food operations, fitness & wellness, and lodging. Last, but certainly not least, is the community services flight, which will contain outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, bowling, golf course, Aero Club and the community center. This list is not all encompassing, but shows the power of this merger through the integration of similar mission and functional responsibilities, which the two squadrons proudly execute everyday.
The new force support squadron organizational structure has been studied, tested and implemented at several locations Air Force wide.
I am convinced the merger will improve and maximize our force support to the Airmen and families of Charleston AFB. I am excited about the new structure but I am even more excited about the Airmen and civilian professionals of the mission support and services squadrons coming together as one. The plan is sound, and I am confident that at the end of the day, these outstanding professionals will make this reorganization a success.
The customer focus, dedication to service, and excellence, which the mission support "Serving the Best" squadron and services "Can-Do Crew" squadron members will provide as the 437th Force Support Squadron will ensure that Team Charleston continues to "Take the fight to the enemy!"