Knowing the Wing Staff Published May 5, 2009 By Airman 1st Katherine Holt 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MacDill AFB, Fla. -- Did you ever wonder what group the Chapel fell under or the 6th Comptroller Squadron? Why is the Legal Office located in the Wing building? What other agencies call the Wing building home? These questions are usually common to new and veteran Airmen. In fact, these agencies don't technically fall under any group. Agencies like the Chapel, 6th Comptroller Squadron and Legal Office fall under the Wing Staff. The 16 agencies in the Wing Staff provide guidance and staff support for the wing's global refueling mission. They work directly for the Commander and Vice Commander. To assist the Wing Commander with the day-to-day operations of the Wing Staff agencies, the Director of Staff helps keep everything organized. "As the Director of Staff, I am often present at direction-setting sessions of the Wing's senior leadership--it's a great privilege to be on hand and offer input to these discussions that set the foundation of Wing focus and policy," said Mr. Joseph Burns, 6th Air Mobility Wing Director of Staff. One major agency on the Wing Staff is the Base Chapel. The Base Chapel facilitates the free exercise of religion through ministry, readiness and mobility commitments for servicemembers assigned to the Wing and all tenant units. During special holidays and other religious recognition events the Base Chapel works side by side with another wing agency, the Equal Opportunity Office. EO, formerly known to servicemembers as MEO and known to government civilians as EEO, provides alternate dispute resolution and meditation to assist the involved parties in reaching a mutually acceptable solution for resolution of their dispute to enhance mission accomplishments. They process complaints of discrimination and provide education services to commanders, servicemembers and civilian employees assigned to MacDill AFB. The office's four man team accommodates all servicemembers and civilians for the wing and all tenant units. The Equal Opportunity Office sometimes works hand-in-hand with the men and women of the Legal Office. The Legal Office, a wing agency, provides wills and legal assistance, claims, notary and powers of attorney assistance to active duty members and their dependents, retirees and their dependents, dependent survivors, as well as Reservists and National Guard members (limited to wills and powers-of attorney for child care issues, unless on active duty.) "There's an enormous variety of interesting missions across the 16 agencies that make up the Wing Staff--I've learned a ton about these vital functions that undergird the Wing's daily operations since my arrival in July 2007," said Mr. Burns Working together within the Wing Staff isn't the only way these agencies work. All personnel throughout the Wing know how to work together during an exercise; courtesy of the 6th Air Mobility Wing Plans Office. The Wing Plans Office, often known simply as XP, develops the operational and logistical plans necessary for the execution of the wing's worldwide mobility operations including air refueling and airlift requirements for all assigned aircraft and personnel. They manage the base level Logistics Module system, staff the Installation Deployment Officer office, monitor all deployment processes and are the executive agent for the wing Crisis Action Team. With Wing Plans coordinating all deployments and exercises, one has to wonder about the safety involved. This is where the Wing Safety Office comes in. The Safety Office is very important to the base. They report and document all accidents on base and take initiative during long weekends and on a daily basis to spread the word about safety. The safety bulletins found in offices can be accredited to the hard work and dedication of the Safety Office. There are many other agencies that fall under Wing Staff, including: the Finance office, the Inspector General's office, Protocol, the Historian, Public Affairs and many others. The men and women of the Wing Staff have an everyday impact on the Team members of MacDill, even if it isn't visible. "We have a great group of active, reserve and civilian personnel on the Wing Staff--the people here are the best part of the job," said Mr. Burns.