MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- When it comes to quality customer care, members at 341st Force Support Squadron’s Military Personnel Section agree that the standard is set significantly high.
“At this unit, everyone works well together,” said Tech. Sgt. Danielle McDowell, 341st FSS MPS NCO in charge. “That is how this unit is run flawlessly. The cohesiveness and our training regimen remains constant, which makes our transistions seamless when we get newly-reported Airmen.”
It’s one of those traits the unit possesses which made them the recipient of this year’s Gerrit D. Foster, Jr. Award for having the outstanding military personnel program in the Air Force. The unit scored number one out of 79 other bases throughout the Air Force and when asked about the contributing factor, the answer was simple.
“It’s our true commitment to the customer,” said Brian Jolly, 341st FSS chief of Manpower and Personnel Flight. “They are the focus of what we do. For example, a lot of MPSs will close for training or physical training, but we don’t do that. We are so serious about customer care that if, for example, one of my Airmen sees someone who looks lost in the hallway they will escort them to where they need to go.”
Along with providing quality customer care, it’s also how the MPS handles various challenges during their day-to-day routines.
“We have a unique mission and its share of challenges, one was implementing the new enlisted evaluation system,” said Ken Sylva, 341st FFS chief of military personnel system. “Lucky for us, we have a young but innovative crew that tackled those challenges and we came out on top.”
The predominately young crew gives the unit the advantage to learn from mistakes and evolve, according to Jolly.
“Seventy percent of our staff are first-term Airmen, so we put them in positions to have as much responsibility as a senior NCO,” said Jolly. “We encourage our Airmen to take ownership of their programs and encourage them to take calculated risks. If they feel they have a better way to run a certain program, we welcome that kind of feedback. That’s one of the ways that has us constantly evolving and growing as a unit and prevents us from being stagnant.”
McDowell agrees that it’s within that mindset that keeps the morale high within the unit.
“Everyone works well together and with that, I have to say that of my 14 years in the Air Force, this is my favorite MPS.”