Battle on paper never ending Published March 28, 2008 By Master Sgt. P.N. Brown Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga., -- Sometimes in the military, units compete for the starring role, believing their own mission is more important than the next...occasionally causing a sort of sibling rivalry. Each unit sometimes thinks that theirs is such an important mission that no one would be here without them. To tell the truth, none of us would be here without the other. Each unit is interdependent on the other. All of what we do depends on another unit forming a cooperative effort with the one other. Sometimes in that world of jockeying for star position we look at the units we like to refer to as paper pushers and don't realize their value. They just don't seem glamorous. But take a moment to think...the "paper pusher units" are just as important as any other. Like all of the units around the military they are an integral piece of the picture. Imagine your career without a pay section, military personnel, ID cards or benefits. It would be chaos. One of the paper mover and shaker units here at Dobbins, that helps us keep it all together, is the 94th Mission Support Squadron who's diversity of services include; Military Personnel Flight, Wing Training, Casualty Notification and Family Support to name a few. Anything you need to know about your career can be found under their umbrella. With approximately 1,800 reservists, one geographically separated unit, family members, civilians and retirees their job is vast and varied. With, according to Capt. Phillip Hathcock, 94th Mission Support Squadron Commander, 33 people assigned, they have14 offices that cover 60 to70 different jobs and programs. It's the details, details, details that can make or break the quality of work produced and a dramatic effect on an individual's career. The little mistakes can cost an Airman a promotion, a pay increase or cause them to lose vital information to their career. Theirs is a mission that doesn't really vary much no matter where they are stationed. According to Captain Hathcock, the intensity is one of the few things that will vary and that can depend on the size of the wing and whether or not your wing is the tenant or the host. Here at Dobbins being the host and one of the larger wings the intensity can be high. Their role in the upcoming Operational Readiness Exercises and Inspection will be vital to the wing. Their support will get Airmen processed through the line and on the way to wherever the deployment sends the wing, whether in an exercise or in real world scenarios. Most of the jobs in the paper world of missions can be tough, something that may not be realized. "One of the little known jobs we perform is casualty notification for this region. "It can be a really tough job; we're dealing with very sensitive issues during a family's time of grief and mourning. But it is also a responsibility that I am both humbled and honored to have" he added. So next time a doubt comes through about the value of the 'paper pushers' mission, remember what gets done on that paper and what would happen without it.
