Altus AFB stands up Force Support Squadron

  • Published
  • By Michael Fletcher
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Mission Support and 97th Services Squadron formally merged in a ceremony today to become the 97th Force Support Squadron. The 97th FSS is part of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, home of the AETC schoolhouse for C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews. 

The 97th MSS unit flag was inactivated and returned to the Air Force. The 97th SVS unit flag was redesignated as the 97th FSS. The two units side-stepped on command to form a single 600-person unit as the new 97th FSS flag was unfurled. 

Lt. Col. Henry L. Moton assumed command of the 97th FSS as he accepted the unit flag from Col. Keith Moncrief, 97th Mission Support Group commander. 

Colonel Moncrief read the long lineage of both units and the many awards each unit accumulated with the notable first places among AETC and Air Force units. The 97th MSS was recognized for the 2006 best airman and family readiness flight, the 2006 education and training manager and was named an Air Force outstanding unit 10 times. The 97th Services Squadron was rated "excellent" in the most recent operational readiness inspection and won the AETC Outstanding Small Services Unit Award for 2007, the resource management flight of the year for both 2007 and 2008 and had the best collocated club in 2007. It has 13 Air Force outstanding unit banners. 

"My vision is simple," said Colonel Moton, "command a first-class organization with top caliber personnel while providing superior service to those we serve. I know our challenges will be tough, but together the road traveled will be easier, our burdens lighter, and success will await us at each corner that we turn." 

Colonel Moton comes to Altus AFB from an assignment as the Air Force's executive officer, Directorate of Manpower and Personnel at the Pentagon. He is a few credits away from his doctorate degree in organizational human resource management and has the experience of several leadership assignments in personnel and wartime manpower requirements. 

"Six bases have tested variants of the merged squadron concept that has now been finalized," said Colonel Moncrief. "Only three bases have implemented the merged MSS/SVS plan and the merger across the Air Force will not be complete until 2010. But today Altus AFB has become the fourth."

The new organization is the result of an ongoing Air Force-wide merger of mission support and services squadrons. The new 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. For example, the sustainment services flight contains the food operations, fitness and wellness, and lodging branches. 

"This is basically a behind-the-scenes change and should appear transparent to most Airmen here," said Michael Coltrin, deputy director of the 97th FSS. "If someone needs to go get an ID card or go to the Airman's Attic, in most cases, that person will still go to the same location they're familiar with today. We will be doing extensive publicity on the changes in locations/phone numbers, etc., that do result from this new Force Support Squadron. What we'll have, however, is a more effective force structure in place to better support our Airmen in the long run. One thing will not change: the dedicated people of this newly merged organization will continue doing their best to support commanders and provide first class support to their customers." 

For more information on the new Force Support Squadron, contact Mr. Coltrin, 481-7731.