New Kunsan squadron provides enhanced force support

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dana Hill
  • 8th Fighter WIng Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  The 8th Services Squadron and the 8th Mission Support Squadron merged to form the new 8th Force Support Squadron here June 30. 

The integration is in line with Program Budget Decision No. 720, or PBD 720, which granted the Air Force authority to reduce manpower authorizations as part of its recapitalization efforts. The merger began Air Force-wide in January 2008 and will continue over the next two years. It will affect more than 15 Air Force specialty codes and occupational series in the manpower, personnel and services operations fields. 

"The merger is going to allow the Airman in the Force Support Squadron to be better trained and to be more responsive to people needs," said Maj. Stephen Jordan, 8th FSS commander. "By consolidating we can ensure that each Airman gets the right training at the right time so that they may provide the proper service to the Wolf Pack members."

Here at the 8th Fighter Wing the goal of the force support squadron is to ensure that every Airman has all the personnel, manpower and services support they need to accomplish the mission. The merger is also geared toward providing better customer service. 

"You will be able to see personnel apprentices become more specialized in the areas that they work," said Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Adams, 8th FSS superintendent. "Now we have the distinct areas Customer Service, Force Management and Career Development, the merger should allow us to focus on certain areas and become a lot more knowledgeable." 

The 8th FSS stood up during an activation and change of command ceremony June 30. During the ceremony the mission support and services squadrons were inactivated and their members merged under the newly activated force support squadron. 

The former Military Personnel Fight is now the Military Personnel Element. There will be no change for the former Services Squadron, they will continue to provide the services customers are used to. 

"This is an exciting time in the Force Support Squadron trying to get our hands around all the different things that the squadron is responsible for," Major Jordan said. "We are all looking forward to the challenge and making the Wolf Pack a better place."