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Expeditionary Force Support Squadron stood up at JBB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs office
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  The 332nd Expeditionary Manpower and Personnel Support for Contingency Operations agencies and Services Squadron officially merged to form the 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron during a redesignation ceremony here, June 23.

"This is a historical moment for us," said Maj. Fernando Martinez, 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron commander. "I'm excited to stand up the first-ever expeditionary force support squadron at Joint Base Balad."

Major Martinez, who served as the 332nd Expeditionary Services Squadron commander, said his team has more than doubled in size with the redesignation.

The Air Force-wide merger, which affects in-garrison and expeditionary units, began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2009, is designed to help streamline processes, maximize customer services and decrease costs of maintaining two separate organizations with similar missions according to officials at the Pentagon.

"The capabilities have expanded from that of just services to services, PERSCO and manpower," Major Martinez said. "We are definitely going to be able to build more synergy through our capabilities and have our Airmen, both enlisted and officer, gain the appreciation for the wide spread capabilities that we bring to the fight."

The three flights included in the new 332nd EFSS are Manpower and Personnel; Sustainment Services and Community Services. The new flight structure will group together Airmen from similar functional areas who already work closely together.

For example, the Community Services Flight will support all recreational activities including Armed Forces Entertainment, as well as education, training, library functions, cyber cafes, professional development and professional military education. The Sustainment Services Flight will oversee food, fitness and sports, and lodging operations.

The merger will be transparent to the majority of servicemembers at Joint Base Balad, but Major Martinez said the benefits will be apparent to all.

"All the greatness that comes from working together and understanding each other's challenges will be the benefit to everyone at Joint Base Balad. I'm convinced we have the best warfighters and the 332nd EFSS will continue to support them with timely and accurate sourcing and accountability of forces, as well as superior delivery of programs promoting fitness, esprit de corps, professional development and quality of life."