Outbound Assignments tackle Code 50

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tristan Truesdell
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
The month of June marks the beginning of summer, but it also marks permanent change of station season for Airmen due to move.

Outbound assignments, a section under the 341st Force Support Squadron, notify Airmen of their PCS and assist in a smooth transition of household goods, prepare housing requirements and more.

“We ensure all individuals and their family members meet PCS requirements prior to leaving the base,” said Staff Sgt. Nancy Mejia, 341st FSS career development flight NCO in charge. “We also make sure base support agencies have visibility on assignments to clear individuals who are leaving.

“Equally important, we verify family, medical and education resources are available and suited to meet any special needs,” she added.

On average, the ‘summer vacation’ months see Airmen transferring duty stations, be it overseas or stateside.

“The Overseas Active Duty Assignment Cycle release occurs four times a year,” said Mejia. “We receive more than 40 assignment notifications each day, which must be distributed to the commanders so they can notify those individuals.”

These numbers are increasing with a new Air Force policy update: Assignment Availability Code 50.

This update guarantees Airmen at Malmstrom receive a new assignment after completion of a controlled tour. Before, Airmen could remain at Malmstrom for more than a decade, according to Air Force Personnel Center.

Because of Code 50, the section saw a surge of assignment notifications compared to last year.

“This year is particularly challenging,” said Mejia. “We’re transitioning 200 more Airmen than we did during the same period last year.”

According to Mejia, the program kicked off late, however Airmen in the section successfully combated the delay by working twice as hard to minimize impact on families and the mission.

“The surge of outgoing personnel is matched with a near-equal number of people coming in,” said Mejia. “The workload is definitely impacting our operation, as well as the operations of base agencies that support in and outbound processes.”

The section’s effort and success over these challenges has resulted in repeated recognition from higher command.

“Our assignment team understands their mission: to get qualified Airmen and their families to their next location safely and ready to hit the ground running,” said Kenneth Sylva, 341st FSS military personnel flight chief. “They go above and beyond by conducting optional face-to-face briefings, providing touch-point audits, delivering orders quickly and being available to our customers.

“This dedication resulted in 12 straight months without a PCS-impacting discrepancy,” he continued. “That was a big part of our MPF being recognized as the Air Force’s “Best MPF” for 2018 - the third time they’ve received this award in the past five years.”