49th FSS earns Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank Award

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Herrick
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The 49th Force Support Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., earned the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank* award, naming them the best (small installation) force support squadron in the Air Force, March 7.

The 49th FSS won this Air Force-level award after winning first in Air Combat Command, and the criteria was much more comprehensive than in years past, according to Maj. Christopher Busque, 49th FSS commander.

"This award represents everything we do in FSS, from manpower and personnel to bowling and the golf course, and everything in between - including honor guard and mortuary affairs, dining facility, clubs ... too many to even list," said Busque. "There are 23 sections in the squadron."

One of the factors that went into the score was the financials, he said. The more money they make, the bigger events they can throw, and it just snowballs from there. It's all made possible by money generated by their programs.

"The better we do, the better quality of life we're able to provide," Busque said.

In past years, the award was based off an award package only, with an advance-notice visit to the top four bases; this year, for the first time, they totally restructured the grading process, he said. This year there was an anonymous customer survey and a "secret shopper"-style visit, which was unannounced. A colonel and chief master sergeant visited in civilian clothes, and didn't reveal themselves until after they looked at various programs, shopped as customers, and scored the programs. It was more than a well-written award package - it was validated on multiple levels.

"We set ourselves apart from any other base," Busque said, who has been commander since July 2010. "It makes me extremely proud that we're able to be responsive to our customers' needs. And there's also a sense of responsibility to be that responsive, because I know if we're not doing it for them, they don't have many other options; so, this is it. We've got to bring our best and our 'A-game' every day."

While quality of life and morale programs are a big part of what the FSS brings to the fight, ultimately, this award boils down to mission impact, he said.

"Whether you're working in the (military personnel section) or the dining facility or the bowling center, you're helping our Airmen and our community be able to better do their jobs, and be able to advance and progress in their own specialties as they support the mission," Busque said. "And don't get me wrong, we definitely do our fair share of direct mission support as well. A huge part of this award can be directly attributed to our deployment processing rating during the Operational Readiness Inspection, and other outstanding readiness programs. So whether directly or indirectly supporting our combat readiness mission the 49th FSS is always raising the bar."

"When you work, we work; and when you play, we play harder. And I'm ok with that," said Master Sgt. Wade Bayne, 49th FSS sustainment services flight superintendent, who oversees all the food, fitness and lodging on Holloman AFB. "Someone has to take care of morale and down time. It can't always be about bombs on target with no stress relief."

Just because they won the award doesn't mean they're going to stop providing the services their customers need, Bayne said; but the more support the base populace gives their programs, the more they can give back.

"Our programs are sometimes all that our community has," Busque said. "If our programs aren't meeting their needs, people have a lack of options; whereas at Hickam AFB (Hawaii) or other bases in big cities, they're able to go right outside the gate, we're the sole source of providing these services and events. (But) we've still got more to give."

*Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank recognized the importance of morale and welfare for America's fighting forces to further the overall Air Force mission. In 1917, he became a flying cadet in the Signal Corps culminating in becoming the Commander of the Technical Training Air Force in 1951 until retirement in 1954.