14th CPTS, CONS begin provisional merger

  • Published
  • By Airman Josh Harbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 14th Comptroller Squadron and the 14th Contracting squadron merged in a ceremony held at the Columbus Club June 24, forming the 14th Contracting and Comptroller Squadron (Provisional).
 
As part of an Air Force - level organizational test, the squadrons are merging because finance and contracting operations are moving towards regionalization, said Maj. Paul Porter, commander of the 14th CONS-CPTS (P). 

In terms of regionalization, Major Porter said finance has been working toward it for two years and contracting stood up the first of five regions this past October. 

"Merging the squadrons is the best way to provide continued customer support in the long term after the regionalization is complete," said Major Porter. 

At the ceremony, Lt. Col. Gena Stuchbery relinquished command of the 14th CPTS and Maj. Paul Porter assumed command of the 14th CONS-CPTS (P). 

"With the dwindling manpower in the CPTS and CONS organizations due to regionalization and the consistent and sometimes increasing mission workload, our senior leaders have seen this method as the best way to meet those challenges," said Major Porter. 

The 14th CONS and 14th CPTS guidons were cased at the ceremony and the new 14th CONS-CPTS (P) guidon was unveiled and presented to Major Porter by Col. Jeff Dunn, 14th Flying Training Wing interim wing commander. 

In his remarks upon assuming command, Major Porter said, "If after two years the Air Force decides not to make the merge permanent, it will be due to policy and regulatory reason beyond our control. It will not be due to personality conflicts or turf wars." 

Major Porter said the organization will be organized to be customer centric at the end of October, so customers may call their respective CONS-CPTS (P) team lead and be able to handle finance and contracting issues with one person rather than two separate organizations. 

Robbins AFB, Ga., Ellsworth AFB, S.D., Vance AFB, Okla., and Malmstrom AFB, Mont., are also introducing a CONS-CPTS (P) at their bases.