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by Master Sgt. Douglas Mills
435th Services Squadron
Over the Services emblem is a mighty torch – a torch which burns 24/7. Underscored is our mission – Combat Support and Community Service.
The 435th Services Squadron is the largest services squadron in the Air Force. The squadron includes 1,600 military and civilian employees operating from 130 facilities throughout the KMC and providing superb activities and outstanding customer service to more than 53,000 community residents.
Have you ever wondered what it would take to host a TDY group of 1,200 people? Plan hundreds of birthday and bowling parties every year? Cater an Airman Leadership School graduation dinner for 600? What about organizing a July 4 bash for 20,000 of your closest friends?
It takes a team driven with determination, imagination, a “Yes I Can” attitude and probably a couple little sprinkles of craziness to attempt to bring smiles and enjoyment to the faces of our families in this community. It would take a group of professionals and volunteers with the ability to touch the lives of everyone in a community, day and night, 365 days a year. It takes a Services Machine.
Our commander’s philosophy is simple: “You can’t fly, fight, win if you’re tired, hungry or out-of-shape.”
These needs are best demonstrated from our combat support role. In 2007, 75 percent of the unit deployed in support of contingency operations providing first class food, lodging, fitness/sports, library services, recreation and mortuary affairs support to both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom theaters of operation. These programs greatly enhanced the morale and readiness for our nation’s war fighter’s challenging operational environments.
Most people are unaware that mortuary affairs is a Service’s mission. Our team of professionals provides family liaison officers training to assist family members in the event of an Air Force active duty, dependent, NAF/DOD civilian or retiree death. The unit has also performed an honorable role of preserving human remains en route from the war zone to the Port Mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Since 9/11, the 435th SVS has performed this sensitive mission for more than 4,000 of our nation’s fallen heroes.
The squadron also provides the community service function, which is where all the exciting and fun programs originate. We offer hundreds of European trips and tours, youth and teen programs, child care services, mega-club events and star-glittered entertainment to name a few. It’s a tremendous challenge for any organization to attempt to meet each and every customer’s needs, desires or expectations. But how do we make it happen?
Maybe we make it happen through the Value Added Tax relief program. The VAT office provided more than €16M in savings to our community in 2007. Maybe it’s the Child Development Center staff relieving the anxiety of parents knowing their children are receiving safe and reliable supervision and care. Perhaps it’s all of those after-school activities provided for youth and teens? Could it be the golf course, bowling centers or arts and crafts activities? Could it be the anticipation of the new aquatics center opening? Is it the programs or people that make the services machine so successful? We have so much going on we created our own monthly Spotlight Magazine and Web site (www.435thservices.com) just to keep track.
How do we do it? The answer is always people. When you bring a group of enthusiastic and motivated people together, determined to squeeze programming into every square inch of our facilities, great things happen. They say a smile is contagious. If this is true, our staff is causing an epidemic in this community. Our customer service driven staff is on a mission to ensure innovative programming continues to develop and is offered at an American value. The next time you ever feel down, bored or you don’t think there is anything to do, pick up our Spotlights Magazine or visit one of our many facilities. We can guarantee the Services Machine will always have something for everyone.
