FSS Airmen go above and beyond, drive FY14 force management success

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen
  • 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada --  When the going gets tough, tough individuals get things done. For the 799th Air Base Squadron at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, Tech. Sgt. Syreeta Weems, NCO in charge of career development, and Staff Sgt. Jennifer Obeng-Duro, NCO in charge of retirements/separations, were those individual called to do a demanding job, and they succeeded.

Weems and Obeng-Duro displayed a high level of devotion in their work when reviewing and completing the fiscal year 2014 force management board packages on top of their day-to-day duties.

The duo completed 266 Quality Force Retention Board and Enlisted Retention Board packages and made sure Airmen and base leadership stayed informed, all while keeping up the with frequent guidance changes.

"They provided a level of service that wasn't seen at other bases in the Air Force," said Capt. Steven Cosgrove, 799th ABS force support flight commander. "They really went above and beyond, not only in processing all the forms, but also taking care of our Airmen who were selected for retention, processing them as smoothly as possible and giving them the information they needed."

Keeping up with the many force management structure changes meant ensuring commanders, first sergeants, and members received the most up-to-date accurate information.

"Because of their work, I was able to keep the commanders informed and taken care of during the process," Cosgrove said. "It was a team effort, and they played a critical part. Their efforts ensured that the packages went up appropriately and the Air Force could make the best decision. They kept the system honest and made sure the process was moving forward."

Completing the work in addition to their normal duties proved time consuming and required attention to detail, organizational skills, and teamwork.
Staying organized and working as a team was the key to success, according to Obeng-Duro. She said if it wasn't a team effort, they wouldn't have been able to accomplish this feat.

"Luckily, we had really great coworkers who would help us with our normal day-to-day duties while we were focusing on force management programs," Obeng-Duro said.

Even with their coworkers' help, Weems and Obeng-Duro took a proactive approach by working many off-duty hours voluntarily to keep the base informed and made sure everyone was taken care of.

"They're the kind of workers who don't believe in a normal nine to five. They come in early and leave late," said Master Sgt. Joseph Jones, 799th ABS force support superintendent.
"Their work comes first. They understand that the base relies on them for information, and they get the information out."

Weems said the two of them stayed late because they knew it had to get done. They didn't wait for it to be told to them, they just did it.

"At points, there was pressure and stress because people's careers [were at stake]," Weems said. "We wanted to make sure we were giving out the right information."

Weems said that they just tried to stay positive. The task was something that had to be done, and it was for the greater good of the Air Force.

Weems and Obeng-Duro's service before self was recognized by Col. James Cluff, 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, in front of every squadron commander on Creech AFB.

"A lot of people don't see the behind-the-scenes of personnel, and people like Tech. Sgt. Weems and Staff Sgt. Obeng-Duro really make the process easier," Cosgrove said. "By them making the process easier, it really takes care of the Creech community at large."