New name, 'same great services' and more Published July 22, 2008 By Brandice Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The 72nd Mission Support Squadron and 72nd Services Division combined forces July 8 at the Tinker Club. The end result, the 72nd Force Support Squadron, a new unit. Approximately 100 guests attended the historic event as officials inactivated the 72nd MSS and activated the 72nd FSS. "On the surface, most of what we've come to expect from the mission support and the services squadrons will remain the same," said Col. James Eilers, 72nd Mission Support Group commander and presiding officer. "What will change, however, is how their functions are organized and presented to our community." The 72nd FSS is designed to better suppport its predecessors' customers by housing all like-services under one organization. The force support squadron has five flights: force development, manpower and personnel, Airmen and family services, sustainment services and community services. Daniel Bell, 72nd FSS director and former 72nd Services director, said success is on the horizon and the transition to a combined unit will be relatively seamless because Team Tinker is filled with professionals. "We have joined together the two finest squadrons at Tinker Air Force Base and our success is inevitable," Mr. Bell said. "To many of you, this merger will be transparent because of what each of you bring to the squadron everyday - your passion to do the right thing, day in and day out." Maj. Edward "Steve" Veitch, who led the 72nd MSS from November 2006 to its inactivation, is relocating to a new assignment at the Pentagon. He received the Meritorious Service Medal at the event. "If you didn't have the mission support squadron, there would be no promotions, no assignments, no deployments, no decorations, no evaluations and things would just grind to a halt," the major said. "Men and women of the 72nd Mission Support Squadron, you are the quiet professionals that keep Tinker humming."