RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
History was made at Randolph this morning when the base's mission support group became the first unit to join the landmark 502d Air Base Wing, an organization that unites the installation support functions at two Air Force bases and one Army post in San Antonio.
The 12th Mission Support Group, with more than a half-century of service to the Air Force behind it, inactivated and became the 902d MSG under the 502d ABW, also known as Joint Base San Antonio.
The 12th MSG's four squadrons and three divisions, the 12th Comptroller Squadron and 12th Flying Training Wing staff agencies also joined the 502d ABW during the activation ceremony in Hangar 4.
Brig. Gen. Len Patrick, 502d ABW commander, called the reorganization of the mission support group, comptroller squadron and wing staff agencies "a first step" and pledged support to Col. Alan Lake, 902d MSG commander, and Lt. Col. Chris Crane, 902d CPTS commander.
"It is my pledge that I will give you and your staff everything you need to accomplish your mission - to meet our mission partners' needs," General Patrick said.
Joint Base San Antonio, a product of 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation, combines support functions at Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases and Fort Sam Houston. The 502d ABW has its headquarters at Fort Sam Houston.
"Since the 502d ABW activated last July, we've had the opportunity to build relationships, hire staff and start merging processes for three historic installations," General Patrick said.
He said the air base wing, once complete, will become the largest entity in the Department of Defense, adding the objective of joint basing is to "provide the best possible support to the installation partners from this day forward, to become even more efficient and effective."
"I anticipate a streamlining of processes at the three installations and incorporating common policies," he said. "We'll see more consistently superb service to our customers. To steal a phrase, we want excellence in partnership."
But he also said he wants "corporate common policies and procedures to strive to maintain the heritage and culture of each installation."
Col. Jacqueline Van Ovost, 12th Flying Training Wing commander, commended the work of the 12th MSG, the 12th CPTS and wing staff agencies in her remarks. Under the realignment, the 12th FTW relinquishes its installation support functions to the 502d ABW to concentrate solely on its flying training mission.
She said the transition to the Joint Base San Antonio structure "will be transparent to the members of Team Randolph because they will continue to receive world-class support from the mission support group and staff agencies."