6th ARS' unsung heroes help with influx

  • Published
  • By Capt. Scott Crellin
  • 6th Air Refueling Squadron command support flight commander

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Across all sections of the Air Force, work demands often change depending on the time of year.  As U.S. Air Force families begin to enjoy the freedom of summer, all units brace for the onset of another season bearing down on them: Permanent change of station season. 

That’s right, “spring cleaning” takes on a new meaning and suddenly squadrons experience a massive change in their population and organization. This massive influx and exodus affects individuals, their families and their abilities to perform their jobs in ways we cannot imagine.

In the 6th Air Refueling Squadron, this PCS season was the first major challenge of the year for the Command Support Flight with its awards and decorations and newly-formed integration sections. The significant type and amount of work the folks in this flight accomplish often goes unnoticed, perhaps even a little underappreciated.  Yet, without their contributions, each inbound and outbound squadron member would be lost in the system without recognition.  These unsung heroes deserve credit for making each new 6th ARS family arriving and departing feel truly cared-for.

Led by 1st Lt. Joseph Rush, the integration section has evolved significantly since its first introduction to the squadron less than a year ago. Most inbound personnel to our squadron immediately plunge into complex flight training programs; therefore, they cannot experience delays or stressors without impacting the mission. Revitalizing a significantly outdated in-processing program, Rush and his staff have drastically increased the efficiency and simplicity for new inbound members to the squadron. Between April and June, integration section in-processed 20 new squadron members, which is 15 percent of the squadron’s current population. A year ago, this process would not have occurred so effectively.  With the new streamlined process, new members arrive to their training programs more than ready to succeed.

As new members arrive, other members depart, which has been expertly managed by the Awards and Decorations section.  Led by Capt. Joseph Camp and 1st Lt. Adam Wood, the awards and decorations section has ensured success for 22 departing members by generating medals and ceremonies for each member to thank them for years of great service within the squadron. 

Additionally, awards and decorations handled the retirements of four senior enlisted members, including command support flight’s Master Sergeants Scott and Steinhauer. Camp and his staff have met every deadline with time to spare, and it is easy to say that squadron members are being recognized 100 percent for their outstanding work in the 6th ARS.

During this time, the Command Support Flight also embraced the unique responsibility of hiring a civilian employee for the squadron’s vacant unit program coordinator position. This position had been vacant for six months, and with squadron members separating who had skillfully fulfilled these responsibilities in the interim, the demand for Command Support Flight to accomplish this process could not have been higher.  Coupled with the squadron’s change in leadership, the flight had to start from scratch with the entire process. Of course, the team was more than ready for the challenge. Over the span of six weeks, the flight had gained permissions and training for civilian hiring practices, developed a timely application review plan and reviewed or interviewed 43 qualified applicants. With squadron members in various worldwide locations, this became difficult, so members of the flight conducted phone interviews using Skype from deployed Air Force Central Command locations. In the end, the flight succeeded and is excited about accepting a new civilian member into the 6th ARS family.

The 6th Air Refueling Squadron has changed significantly within the past 3 months with the major shift in population, which included the squadron’s entire senior leadership staff.  With the increased stress of summertime KC-10 Extender operations and members scattered across the globe, it would be easy for the squadron to satisfy the flying missions first, but Command Support Flight has gone above and beyond to ensure that all squadron members and their families are ready for the high ops tempo we expect to maintain.

Spring cleaning may be over, but this may have been the most effective spring cleaning the squadron has seen in a long time, and we owe much of it to the excellent folks working in the 6th ARS Command Support Flight. Strong work.