MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 6th Force Support Squadron was recognized as Air Mobility Command’s nominee for the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay award for best large installation-level force support squadron of the year for 2018.
The award recognizes leadership, customer service, support and quality-of-life programs provided to joint military members and their families.
The accolade highlights the squadron's mission to provide world-class education, physical fitness, hospitality, manpower, personnel and family support to Team MacDill and the Tampa Community according to the 6th FSS commander, Lt. Col. Kimberly Lichte.
“We’re honored to have been selected by AMC as the best force support squadron in the command,” said Lichte. “I am so proud to lead such an amazing team! Every day the members of this squadron come to work focused on taking care of families, operating with trust, and supporting the warfighters in the wing and our joint mission partners.”
The 6th FSS is a diverse squadron comprised of more than 600 dedicated military and civilian professionals who manage and maintain a multifaceted mission that includes providing lodging, child care, recreation, food services and much more to Team MacDill’s personnel and their families.
In 2018, the 6th FSS modernized the Airman Leadership School’s program by securing $45,000 of innovation funds for electronic tablets to effectively deliver their curriculum.
Additionally, the Military Personnel Flight implemented a new online identification card renewal system to ease walk-in wait time for customers visiting the Air Force’s largest identification card section.
Furthermore, the squadron supported Hurricane Michael evacuees by hosting a town hall with local supporting agencies and executing $177,000 of Air Force Assistance Fund grants.
The squadron also received the Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Award, recognizing their successful partnerships and projects that ultimately benefit military-connected children through the MacDill Council for Educational xcellence.
The 6th FSS will represent Air Mobility Command at the Air Force-level for the best FSS in the Air Force.
The LeMay Award was named in honor of Air Force Gen. Curtis E. LeMay who, in addition to his aviation accomplishments, had a life-long interest in support and quality-of-life programs provided to Air Force members and their families. The Curtis E. LeMay Award was first awarded in 1965. It started as an award for the best morale, welfare and recreation program in the Air Force and has evolved through the years to services and now force support.
The 6th FSS’s hard work and dedication also led to them winning an additional team and individual award. Senior Airman Jennifer Miranda, a fitness specialist, won the installation-level Force Support Airman of the Year Award and the Military and Airman and Family Readiness Flight won the Force Support Capabilities Award.
“This award is indicative of the passion this team has to support our service members and families,” added Lichte. “We recognize the important role that our squadron has to ensure others are mission ready and that their families are taken care of throughout life’s milestones.”