A Snapshot of Combat Support Flight Published Feb. 26, 2007 By Nicole Campbell Staff Writer POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Quick game of word association: "mortuary affairs." Your first thought, and most likely your second and third, probably wasn't "dining facility," unless you're a services specialist. The 43rd Services Squadron encompasses five flights, and while each has many diverse tasks, they all work to sustain "the world's premier combat airlift operation through precise delivery of programs that improve combat readiness." The 43rd SVS Combat Support Flight maintains well-known programs like the fitness center, library and child development services, but also lesser-known programs such as mortuary affairs, honor guard and dining facility. The major functions within this squadron include: - Food service - Lodging - Physical fitness - Child and youth development and recreation - Recreational support - Co-located club services - Mortuary affairs - Base honor guard program The squadron's mission is to provide these essential services to all Pope personnel and to develop and maintain programs that enhance Air Force readiness and esprit de corps, and increase quality of life. The squadron also acts as a liaison for all Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Defense Commissary activities on Pope. Honor Guard Tech. Sgt. Stan Byron, honor guard NCOIC, said the group provides funeral honors to 66 counties throughout North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia for veterans, retirees and active duty personnel. They maintain a 100 percent response rate for funeral service requests, even when little notice is given. "Every so often there is a case when the funeral home neglects to contact us until the day of the funeral," Sergeant Byron said. "Luckily we were able to make it happen. We maintain a 100 percent response rate and have never missed a funeral due to lack of time or manning." Sergeant Byron said that regulations dictate the type of honors provided at a funeral. A veteran, or a person who served but did not retire, receives a two-person detail for flag-folding and taps. A retiree receives a six-person detail who serve as pall bearers and provide flag-folding, 21-gun salute and taps. Active-duty personnel receive the same honors as a retiree, plus the color guard. The honor guard also participates in community functions, Sergeant Byron said. They provide a color guard during on-base activities and retirement ceremonies, and off base they judge high school drill competitions and perform POW/MIA ceremonies. They are busiest around Veterans' Day and Memorial Day. When Airmen from a unit other than 43rd SVS are chosen to serve with the honor guard, they complete a 15-day training period and subsequent evaluation. Though most make it through the training, there is one thing that could stop the process. "Bearing is a big part of what we do. Even the slightest change in facial expression during a funeral service is grounds for removal," Sergeant Byron said. Honor guard duty is a one-year tour. Mortuary Senior Master Sgt. Perita Cook, Combat Support Flight superintendent, explained that mortuary affairs provides assistance to family members who have lost a loved one. "Once the family has been notified by casualty affairs, we work together with the family liaison officer and summary court officer to help the family make final arrangements for their loved one," Sergeant Cook said. "We have a team that goes out and explains everything to the family." She said the team tries to remove as much of the burden from the families as possible during the difficult time. Master Sgt. Vernon Means, mortuary NCOIC, said that when Pope experiences a local fatality, the remains are sent to Womack Army Medical Center for autopsy, and then to a contract funeral home for burial preparation. Upon completion of embalming procedures, the mortuary affairs team helps dress the deceased Airman in their service dress uniform. If needed, a new uniform and accouterments are purchased so everything looks perfect; however, the next of kin may choose for their service member to wear a suit instead. The team also builds a shadow box that contains a folded flag and the service member's ribbons and awards, and presents one to both the spouse and parents. If the parents are divorced, they will each receive a shadow box, Sergeant Means said. Kitty Hawk Dining Facility It's not unusual for more than 600 hundred people per day to pass through the doors of the Kitty Hawk dining facility to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. The NCOIC, Tech. Sgt. Brian Robinson, said that military food service workers are in at 4:30 a.m., to begin breakfast preparation, and as soon as breakfast is over at 7:30 a.m., they clean up and begin working on lunch. The dinner shift personnel begin their work-day at 9 a.m., helping with lunch and getting ready for the dinner served at 4 p.m. The Airmen work 10-hour shifts of five days on, two days off, and are assigned breakfast or dinner shift according to their strengths, said Sergeant Robinson. There are civilian contract personnel who clean the dining areas between each meal service. The facility is meant for meal-card carrying Airmen who live in the dorms. Cash-paying enlisted personnel may also use the facility, but it is the base commander's policy that officers and civilians are excluded from the service, said Sergeant Robinson. Commanders come in about once a month to see what their people are eating. Sergeant Robinson doesn't think BRAC will cause the facility to be completely turned over to Fort Bragg; he feels it might become a joint dining hall. Regardless, he would like to see the facility get some updates. "I would like the kitchen to become mainstream like the restaurant industry. It would be more expensive, but more efficient," he said.