355th MSS, SVS combine to form force support squadron

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The 355th Mission Support Squadron and the 355th Services Squadron officially became the 355th Force Support Squadron after an activation ceremony Aug. 28 at the O' Club.

The Air Force wide initiated change will help streamline processes, maximize customer service and cut costs associated with maintaining separate organizations, according to officials at the Pentagon.

The 355th 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 but Team D-M will not lose any services associated with this merger.

In January 2007, Air Force bases across six commands were selected to test the new squadron model. The test bases helped establish where specific responsibilities and processes should be placed within the organizational structure and how they should be set up.

The activation for all force support squadrons is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2010 and according to officials it should be advantageous for the careers of future force support officers and civilians.

"This reorganization opens up career opportunities that we haven't had before," said Col. Mike Gamble in 2007 when he was the deputy director of Strategic, Plans and Programs at the Pentagon. "With our training plan in place, our people will be able to gain valuable experience across different functional areas. We've also created a new position, the operations officer, that will be open to officers and civilians."