3A1s - supporting the needs of commanders and squadron members

Published Dec. 15, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Many may not know, but there are Airmen in each squadron designated to making squadron members' and commanders' lives easier.

Airmen in the 3A1 Administration Air Force Specialty Code are tasked with helping the needs of the commanders and Airmen in their respective squadrons.

Administration specialists are mainly commander's support and their duties include administrative support (publications and forms), human resources (leave, awards and decorations), commander programs (fitness management) and postal service.

"Our main job on a daily basis is being sure that we can provide for our commanders," said Airman 1st Class Bianca Barton, 341st Operations Group administrator. "Anything our commanders need, we need to be able to provide information to be sure they are well informed and have all resources available to them. We are here as a support and will always focus on being well informed to be able to relay the information."

In addition to helping the commanders, they also aid Airmen and government civilians.

Administration specialists are working with 341st Force Support Squadron on training to gain the skills necessary for orderly room tasks.

The orderly room is also making its comeback, providing additional support to the commander's support staff. In the orderly room, squadron members can be helped with out-processing and in-processing. In addition, administrators can route enlisted performance reports, act as unit fitness monitors and personnel reliability program monitors.

The commander's support staff is comprised of civilian and/or military administration and personnelists. Depending on the squadron's size, each support staff has a different amount of personnelists and administration specialists.

Ninety-five percent of orderly rooms are already set up in each squadron across base, said Staff Sgt. Meagan Demers, 341st Missile Wing administration specialist.

Before May 2014, 3A1s were known as knowledge operation managers, falling in the 3D0 specialty code. After the split, only two 3D0s remained in their position, while the remaining 20 became administration.

Before the split, administration specialists were functionally assigned to the 341st Communications Squadron. Now, the functional responsibilities are at wing-level.

"This change in the career field was put in place to reinstate the orderly room," said Senior Master Sgt. Jane Pullo, 341st MW functional manager. "Twenty-two years later we are right back where we started - providing professionals to support the needs of the commander and squadron members."