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2 become 1: MSS, SVS merge into 87th FSS

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bekah Phy
  • 87th Air Base Wing public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The 87th Mission Support Squadron and 87th Services Squadron will merge to form the 87th Force Support Squadron during a ceremony April 3, 3 p.m., at the McGuire golf course. 

Lt. Col. John Clark, 87th SVS commander, will become the first 87th FSS commander. Lt. Col. Christopher Wyckoff, 87th MSS commander, will head to Randolph AFB, Texas, to run support officer assignments. 

"It is an honor to be selected as the first commander of the 87th FSS. This is a very exciting time to be in the squadron as we lead into Joint Basing," Colonel Clark said. "... When we fully transition in October (when full operational capability of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst takes effect), we will be the largest and best force support squadron in Air Mobility Command - making the Joint Base one of the best places to live and work." 

The concept of the force support squadron is to combine all agencies that provide mission-support services to the Air Force into one squadron, said Master Sgt. Dan Gallagher, 87th SVS readiness section chief. "The thought process is that under one roof we can streamline processes and expedite the final product to our customers," he said. 

The new squadron will contain five flights: Force Development Flight, Manpower and Personnel Flight, Airmen and Family Services Flight, Sustainment Services Flight, and Community Services Flight. 

Customers need not worry about the two squadrons merging - there will be no differences to the customer on the surface. All services used by customers will still be located in their current locations; however, the command section will be consolidated in Bldg. 2905. 

"We still have Airmen who graduated from their respective tech schools working in the facilities they were trained to operate," Sergeant Gallagher said, "but behind the scenes we've consolidated the decision-making processes to better serve our customers." 

In April 2007, the Air Force designated Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Grand Forks AFB, N.D.; Warren AFB, Wyo.; Minot AFB, N.D.; and Eielson AFB, Alaska, as the merger testing bases. After the Air Force evaluated the test bases through surveys, analyses and site visits, McGuire, along with other bases, planned to begin the implementation of its force support squadron in January 2008. 

According to an Airman's Roll Call, the purpose of the mission support-services merger is to streamline processes, increase efficiencies, maximize customer service and cut costs associated with maintaining two separate organizations.