Squadrons merge toward better financial management

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eydie Sakura
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 341st Comptroller Squadron and 341st Contracting Squadron merge into one squadron July 11 in an effort to streamline processes and enhance training programs to better support the mission at home and abroad. 

Malmstrom is one of four Air Force bases currently being tested over a two year period before the merger goes Air Force-wide July 2010 to July 2012. Both squadrons have been in the process of centralizing some of their functions and theoretically getting smaller. 

"It was a natural match to merge both organizations at the installation-level," said Maj. Kristin Uchimura, 341st CONS commander. "However, the new (squadron) will be a wing staff agency and will not fall under the mission support group, which is where contracting previously fell under."
 
The budget section, which interacts with contracting, will be co-located in building 145. The commanders hope to see some synergy realized by having the budget personnel working in close proximity with the contracting personnel. 

Functions that were done by both squadrons will no longer be separate and will be merged into one "joint" flight known as the Operations Support Flight. 

"The financial services section, which handles military pay, travel pay, etc., will remain in the Military Personnel Element building 1191," said Maj. Trevor Whitehill, 341st CPTS commander. "This merger should be transparent to base personnel and existing checks-and-balances will be unchanged." 

During the two year testing cycle, the four bases testing the merger will implement a 50/50 commander concept. At Malmstrom and Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., the unit commander for the newly formed 341st Comptroller and Contracting Squadron will be from the comptroller career field and the deputy commander from contracting. 

However, at the other two test bases at Columbus AFB, Miss., and Robins AFB, Ga., the commanders' roles will be switched. 

"The Air Force has always been on the leading edge of change and transformation," Major Uchimura said. "Our culture demands innovative leaders, revolutionary ideas and smart business solutions. Malmstrom is only one of four bases chosen to test pilot this merger; it's not easy to be a pathfinder, but it is simply awe-inspiring to know we have these opportunities to make a difference for the better every day." 

Major Whitehill said the biggest benefit to the merger will be in the execution of the expeditionary missions. 

"Since contracting and finance work very closely in a deployed environment, having both functions under one roof will enhance training programs and result in better support to the deployed mission," Major Whitehill said. 

The merger ceremony takes place July 11 at 9 a.m. at the Medal of Honor Park.