Keesler reserve and active wings integrate force support

Photo By Ryan Labadens | Staff Sgt. Tiffany Skinner, 403rd Force Support Squadron non commissioned officer in charge, takes a military ID picture for Master Sgt. Michelle Turner, 403rd FSS chief of customer support, December 6 at the Sablich Center at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The reserve 403rd FSS and active-duty 81st FSS is scheduled to integrate their functions to assist each other in serving the needs of both active-duty and reserve personnel, retirees, and their families, streamlining customer service to make it more cost-effective and customer focused. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)  

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MS, UNITED STATES

12.06.2015

Story by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens 

403rd Wing

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Air Force Reserve's 403rd Force Support Squadron and the Air Force's 81st FSS here began the process of integrating their personnel services to assist Air Force members, reservists, their families and military retirees served by both units.

According to Capt. April Martin, 403rd Military Personnel Section officer in charge, the main purpose of combining the two squadrons is to co-locate and integrate all FSS functions at Keesler and maximize their capabilities.

"This effort will give our customers the ability to get assistance from both Air Force Components without barriers and capitalize on our personnel support for everyone, all to help make our Air Force more effective," said Martin.

This integration is an Air Force-wide initiative directed by the Secretary of the Air Force in 2010. Keesler Air Force Base started the integration process Oct. 14 and is expected to complete the first portion of merger by Feb. 1, 2016. Currently, the co-location here will include the Military Personnel Section and Airman and Family Readiness portions of FSS, with other functions such as Education and Training and the Command Section co-locating at a later date.

Keesler is the fourth base to move toward integrating the force support squadrons of two separate Air Force components. Peterson AFB, Colorado, was the first to do so, completing its integration in 2014.

Once the integration here is complete, most Keesler FSS personnel will be housed under one roof at the Sablich Center.

"This process will streamline many of our co-existing services and make it more cost-effective and customer focused," said Maj. Teresa King, 81st FSS commander.

• Date Taken: 12.06.2015
• Date Posted: 11.22.2016 17:01
• Story ID: 215644
• Location: KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MS, US