Security Support Squadron wins best in AFSPC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Emerald Ralston
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Officials recently announced the 341st Security Support Squadron as the winner of the 2006 Air Force Space Command Outstanding Unit Award. 

Relentless implementation of new technology and a drive to excel brought this award home for the 341st SSPTS, said Maj. Joseph Musacchia, 341st SSPTS commander. 

"We made a conscious choice that we were going to bring the Security Forces Group into the 21st Century," Major Musacchia said. "I briefed General Lord [former Air Force Space Command commander] personally and told him how we wanted to modernize our operations. After telling him what kind of funding we needed he said 'Great, you get $10 thousand.'" 

That was the seed money to start automating everything around the common access card, and that innovative automation helped earn the 341st SSPTS the award. 

"Our most significant accomplishments are the automation efforts in the Keys and Codes Control Center, Security Forces armory and Vehicle Recovery Center," said Senior Master Sgt. David White, 341st Security Forces manager. "We created an automatic entry authorization request and integrated it with a bar code scanner capable of reading and individual's CAC to retrieve their virtual record. This speeds up the process for verifying missile field dispatches and determining an individual's status under the personnel reliability program." 

"The KCCC also created a virtual entry authorization list utilizing a template that ensures uniformity and compliance with Air Force Space Command guidelines," Sergeant White said. "The virtual entry authorization letter may be routed electronically, which also speeds up the coordination process and allows it to be posted at each affected missile alert facility in a fraction of the time it would take to transport them by vehicle." 

Also, similar programs are used to enhance operations in the vehicle recovery center for vehicle check out and in the armory for weapon, ammunition and equipment check out. 

"Not a single Security Forces member could do their job without going through at least four people in the Security Support Squadron," Major Musacchia said. "If Security Forces is the wheel, the Security Support Squadron is the axle it turns on." 

Along with streamlining the EAL process, the 341st SSPTS was ahead of the curve for AFSPC Security Forces technology. 

"We had $57.1 million worth of Security Forces technology that had never been tested or proven in the 20th Air Force," Major Musacchia said. "We were the first to use the new technology and we were also selected to brief the numbered Air Force on the new technologies." 

With a steady trend of going above and beyond, the 341st SSPTS also took great strides by eliminating 60 hours of classroom training for the job and converting to computer based training, and was the first ever to do so. 

Another accomplishment in the 341st SSPTS is the cohesion of the squadron over the past years. 

"When I took command, the 341st SSPTS had no identity," Major Musacchia said. "They were just loose groups of people. But with leadership and organization, we made the 341st SSPTS a cohesive and effective unit. Every section was touched and improved, and having everything automated around the CAC is an underlying thread to tie us together." 

Teamwork keeps the mission running on a day-to-day basis, as well, in the 341st SSPTS. 

"Quality people who go the extra mile to make great things happen make us such a great cohesive unit," Sergeant White said. "The members of our unit go above and beyond every day not only to meet the needs of the mission, but also to seek out new and more efficient ways to enhance daily operations. We've also benefited from the tremendous support of the 120th Fighter Wing Air National Guard unit who have augmented us for the past year. These individuals possess a variety of unique skill sets and experience that has been an integral part of our success and has elevated the squadron to new levels of excellence." 

Of course, all these accomplishments couldn't have happened without a foundation of leadership and direction. 

"Vision without a plan of action and hard work is nothing more than a hallucination," Major Musacchia said. "All I did was provide the vision and my people amazed me with their action and hard work to make it a reality."