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Mission support, services meld as one

  • Published
  • By 325th Mission Support Squadron and 325th Services Squadron staff writers
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. --  Two Tyndall Air Force Base customer service squadrons, the 325th Mission Support Squadron and the 325th Services Squadron, will join forces to become the 325th Force Support Squadron, Nov. 3.

"Mission Support and Services have one over-riding commonality," said Col. David Zeh, 325th Mission Support Group commander, "they specialize in serving the needs of our entire Air Force family; active duty, civilians, dependents and retirees, with a myriad of customer- driven products and services. We gain efficiencies that will be realized both at home and while our Airmen are deployed."

Unlike some bank mergers and acquisitions making headlines of late, not a single person in either organization will lose their job or suffer a downgrade in responsibility or pay, agreed Lt. Col. Michael Lamb, 325th SVS commander and Maj. Rodney Nichols, 325th MSS commander.

While there may be new changes, there are some things that will stay the same.

The vast majority of the folks in both squadrons will continue the same great work they're doing today, said the two squadrons' commanders. There are a few changes in store for the leadership team of the new squadron, but for nearly all, responsibilities have remained the same or expanded.

There are a number of natural fits between the two squadrons that are evident almost immediately.

"In Mission Support, we have a casualty affairs section; in Services, we have mortuary affairs," said Colonel Lamb, who continued to explain that while education belongs the 325th MSS, the library belongs to 325th SVS; civilian personnel belongs to the 325th MSS, while human resources belongs to 325th SVS; and family readiness belongs to the 325th MSS, while family member support belongs to the 325th SVS.

"It really makes a lot of sense once you break it down," said Colonel Lamb.

The main wartime functions of the squadrons will also merge, which has already happened at nearly all deployed locations.

"Integrating our home station, wartime training will better prepare our Airmen for how they'll operate in the deployed environment," said Major Nichols. "Personnel accountability is already improving down range as a result of the merger."

After the merger, the 325th FSS will be one of the largest and most diverse units on the installation with approximately 514 military and civilians, managing 45 on-base facilities, and supporting more than 37,000 active duty, reservists, civilians, families and retirees in the local community.

A ceremony where the 325th Mission Support Squadron will be deactivated and the 325th Services Squadron will be redesignated as the 325th Force Support Squadron will be 10 a.m. Nov. 3rd at Flag Park under the command of Colonel Lamb. In the event of inclement weather, the activation ceremony will take place at the Horizons Club.