Friday, May 15, 2015

AFIMSC activates detachment at USAFE-AFAFRICA

by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane
USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs


5/15/2015 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany  -- Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center activated Detachment 4 in a ceremony at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa May 15.

Maj. Gen. Theresa Carter, AFIMSC commander, presided over the ceremony as Col. Andra Clapsaddle assumed command of the newly established detachment.

"For those of us in the installation and support world, this is a huge deal," Clapsaddle said, "but if we do this right, the Airmen outside of our career field will never notice this change. If we do this right, it should be a non-event to the rest of the Air Force. "

AFIMSC was established to help the Air Force make the best use of limited resources in the management and operation of its installations by reducing costs, creating efficiencies and eliminating redundant activities. It is establishing detachments at nine major commands and one direct reporting unit in order to best support the needs of the commands while leveraging centralized capabilities in the AFIMSC headquarters. AFIMSC has six primary subordinate units and two direct reporting units.

Detachment 4 combines and oversees functions in the comptroller, civil engineer, communications, security forces, personnel and support career fields.

While Airmen in the above career fields won't see a change in their chain of command at the base level, the funding and guidance flow will be impacted starting in fiscal year 2016, when AFIMSC takes control of installation and mission support funding.

"We have an opportunity to really enhance the way we train and equip our Airmen," Carter explained. "I can't think of a better way to change how we think about combat support than really looking at us, not by our badge, but by the support we provide."
Centralized management of installation support capabilities at AFIMSC and its detachments ensures each installation receives the necessary level of support to execute Air Force priorities.

USAFE-AFAFRICA is the only major command in the Air Force that directly supports two combatant commanders over two large areas of operation. With the centralized management of many theater resources, the command will streamline processes once owned by multiple entities.

"USAFE-AFAFRICA is a great case of continuity and change," Carter said. "You have a tremendous mission and a tremendous team. What doesn't change is the important support that this command provides for our allied partners and the defense of Europe and now taking on a very big and important mission in that of Air Forces Africa."

Clapsaddle explained to the Airmen in the audience, "You will come in on Monday and not very much will have changed. You will still have the same job with the same professionalism and sense of pride as you all have, and I, just as I always have been, will be proud to be a part of our team."

The AFIMSC headquarters was activated in a ceremony May 5 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Three hundred and fifty people will be assigned to the headquarters, and approximately 74 positions will make up the AFIMSC Detachment 4 tasked with supporting USAFE-AFAFRICA's unique missions.

Clapsaddle will lead the AFIMSC Detachment 4 until August at which point she will transition to the AFIMSC headquarters to lead the Installation Engineering Division.

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