Spangdahlem's force support secures TSP success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Timothy Kim
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
U.S. Air Forces in Europe recently launched its theater security package to show the U.S. Air Force's air capability and NATO's continued support to its European allies as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Yet its transition to Spangdahlem represented a feat accomplished by more than just the arrival of attack aircraft.

The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed here as part of the TSP, bringing their A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, pilots and a team of maintainers. Behind their successful transition to the installation, the collective efforts of the 52nd Force Support Squadron and other base agencies made that process as smooth as possible.

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Janelle Lloyd, 52nd FSS military personnel section superintendent, and U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Richbourg, 52nd FSS sustainment services superintendent, both played a key part in the reception and the bed down of the squadron.

The first step to fully integrate them involved an in-processing through Personnel Support for Contingency Operations team.

The PERSCO team normally runs personnel operations in deployed locations, and the 52nd FSS further augmented their service.

"It was really the MPS and PERSCO team that ensured the success," said Lloyd, who arranged reception requirements and training for the teams.

Lloyd's team formally processed deployed TSP members through a Reception Control Center line, which included a master checklists, folder reviews, as well as briefings from various agencies throughout the base.

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Katherine Taylor, 52nd FSS MPS chief, also lauded the team's cohesion.

"I'm incredibly proud of the team and the hard work and dedication from the different agencies," Taylor said. "Although the TSP came in during normal working hours, they were more than ready to step up, report early and stay late. That is a great thing to see from everyone involved."

The reception represented just one aspect of the 354th EFS's reception to Spangdahlem, yet deployed members still needed a bed down. Richbourg's team provided rooms, dining facilities and transportation for the deployed squadron.

"My main mission was to establish prior coordination with the 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron and the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron," Richbourg said. "I also confirmed our team had readied the dorms and made sure we had received all the items we needed to bring in the personnel from off-base. Without the coordination of all the different agencies, there's no way this would have been a success."

Richbourg emphasized that the sustainment service's number-one priority focused on the security of the deployed. Her team guaranteed those members had a place to sleep, eat and had reliable transportation on base.

And beyond Saber Nation, Richbourg's contingency lodging team reinforced USAFE's base operating support team.

"If TSP personnel didn't get rest or have a place to lay their head down, they wouldn't be able to do their job effectively," Richbourg said. "Being part of that big picture never gets old. It's one of those things where you realize 'this is what we do,' and it's one of our prime readiness base services mission. I will never get tired doing it or teaching my Airmen on how to do it."

Operation Atlantic Resolve continues to spread its wings and fly over Europe as a sign of global trust and support, but its flight could only take place with the proper care and maintenance provided by various units throughout the 52nd FW and its collaborative efforts from other air bases throughout Europe.

"I'm very proud of the MPS and PERSCO team for a job well done," Lloyd said. "They came together as a team, focusing on the mission and did an outstanding job."