News United States Air Force
 AF Installation, Mission Support Center activates detachment at USAFE-AFAFRICAPublished May 18, 2015
                        
                        By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Crane
                        
                        
                        U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa Public Affairs
                **RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --**
                Detachment 4 of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center was activated in a ceremony at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa here May 15.
Maj. Gen. Theresa Carter, the AFIMSC commander, presided over the ceremony as Col. Andra Clapsaddle assumed command of the newly established detachment.
"For those of us in the installation and support world, this is a huge deal, but if we do this right, the Airmen outside of our career field will never notice this change,” Clapsaddle said. “If we do this right, it should be a nonevent to the rest of the Air Force."
AFIMSC was established to help the Air Force make the best use of limited resources in the management and operation of its installations by reducing costs, creating efficiencies and eliminating redundant activities. It is establishing detachments at nine major commands, and one direct reporting unit, in order to best support the needs of the commands while leveraging centralized capabilities in the AFIMSC headquarters. AFIMSC has six primary subordinate units and two direct reporting units.
Detachment 4 combines and oversees functions in the comptroller, civil engineer, communications, security forces, personnel and support career fields.
While Airmen in those career fields won't see a change in their chain of command at the base level, the funding and guidance flow will be impacted starting in fiscal year 2016, when AFIMSC takes control of installation and mission support funding.
"We have an opportunity to really enhance the way we train and equip our Airmen," Carter explained. "I can't think of a better way to change how we think about combat support than really looking at us, not by our badge, but by the support we provide."
Centralized management of installation support capabilities at AFIMSC and its detachments ensures each installation receives the necessary level of support to execute Air Force priorities.
USAFE-AFAFRICA is the only MAJCOM in the Air Force that directly supports two combatant commanders over two large areas of operation. With the centralized management of many theater resources, the command will streamline processes once owned by multiple entities.
"USAFE-AFAFRICA is a great case of continuity and change," Carter said. "You have a tremendous mission and a tremendous team. What doesn't change is the important support that this command provides for our allied partners and the defense of Europe and now taking on a very big and important mission in that of Air Forces Africa."
The AFIMSC headquarters was activated in a ceremony May 5 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. There will be 350 people assigned to the headquarters, and approximately 74 positions will make up the AFIMSC Detachment 4 tasked with supporting USAFE-AFAFRICA's unique missions.
Clapsaddle will lead the AFIMSC Detachment 4 until August, at which point she will transition to the AFIMSC headquarters to lead the Installation Engineering Division.AFAFRICA 



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Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center 



activation 



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