New support is force to be reckoned with

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jamal Sutter
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  More than 200 members of Team Holloman gathered at the Desert Sands Enlisted Club ballroom to witness as two squadrons became one in a historical ceremony here April 4. 

The crowd looked on as the 49th Mission Support Squadron and the 49th Services Squadron merged to become one super squadron: the 49th Force Support Squadron.

49th Mission Support Group Commander Col. Mark Engeman assisted as the 49 SVS and 49 MSS guidons were cased by Lt. Col. Kristin McCoy and Capt. John Ball, the former squadron commanders, and the new 49 FSS guidon was unveiled.

The merger of the two squadrons has been talked about for more than two years, said Colonel McCoy, 49 FSS commander.

Minot Air Force Base, N.D., which introduced it's force support squadron about a year ago, was the Air Combat Command's test base for the project, she said.

Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., followed shortly after and Holloman is one of the few base's currently going through the transition.

At first glance, the formation of the new squadron would seem odd since the two merging squadrons do different jobs. This is not true according to Chief Master Sgt. Vyanne Roush, 49 FSS superintendent.

"We do the same mission," Chief Roush said. "We take care of people."

The combined squadron now holds more than 150 military and 350 civilian personnel, Colonel McCoy said.

As far as the make up and placement of personnel in the squadron goes, there were only a few subtle changes made do to the merger, said the chief. Some shops and centers were placed into new flights while a few other flights combined with each other.

The new squadron now contains Manpower and Personnel Flight, Sustainment Services Flight, Airman and Family Services Flight, Force Development Flight and Community Services Flight.

Other changes that will be implemented involve placing young officers into different flights, to allow them the chance to see how the squadron operates elsewhere, said Colonel McCoy, who believes these adjustments will not affect quality of service and that customers may not even notice a difference.

"For the average customer, these changes should be fairly invisible to the eye," she said. "You're still going to go to the personnel side of the house to take care of assignments or re-enlistments, and you're still going to go to the fitness center to do what you do there."

To Colonel McCoy, the merger gives squadron members a fresh start.

"It's a chance to learn something new and different," she said. "It's a chance to get outside of your comfort zone."

Even with what may seem like a lot to adjust to, Chief Roush assures business will continue to go on as normal.

"If you walk in today it's still the same," she said. "I'm still doing the same job I did Friday."

After the squadron was activated, Colonel McCoy gave remarks about taking on new challenges and brought fourth a moment of laughter when she said she would keep her speech short so the newly formed squadron could get back to work.