Assignment worries addressed for Keflavik Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Renee Kirkland
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Air Force members at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, waited anxiously to hear their fate April 5 through 7 from a U.S. Air Forces in Europe assignments team visiting the base.

The team came to NAS Keflavik to clarify the process people needed to follow to receive permanent change of station orders to leave the base, after the U.S. government announced plans last month to close U.S. military operations in Iceland.

The assignments team, lead by Col. Robert Suminsby, USAFE A1, conducted three briefings for Keflavik Airmen to quell rumors and present facts about how the assignment process will work.

“I realize there is a huge amount of anxiety involved in this process,” said Colonel Suminsby. “I would like to tell you that everyone will get a good deal, but I can’t. Assignments are driven by the needs of the Air Force.

“We are a military fighting force. I would love to give you exactly what you want, but equity and fair process is the name of the game,” the colonel said.

Questions about where people will go, joint spouse assignments, school year ending, mandatory squadron moves and housing situations were rampant.

Senior Master Sgt. Hubert Thomas, 85th Maintenance Squadron, would like to move to the United Kingdom as a part of his squadron’s mandatory move. However, he’s not sure if there will be a spot for him.

“The uncertainty of not knowing wears on the family,” said Sergeant Thomas. “Everyday my family asks me where we’re going.”

It’s not just where they are going that Sergeant Thomas and others are concerned about, but also where they will live.

“My wife home schools our children, so the school system doesn’t worry me, but I am concerned about where we will live.”

Airmen were assured they were not in this situation alone.

“This is not just your problem,” said Brig. Gen. Robert P. Steel, 48th Fighter Wing commander. “Although I am not here physically, this situation is on my radar everyday.”

No date is set to cease Air Force operations at NAS Keflavik.

“We are waiting for an execute order from the chief of staff to go ahead and let this happen,” said General Steel. “We can’t proceed without that order. Key dates and definition will come after this order.”

Although all questions could not be answered during the visit, the stress of not knowing anything at all for many of the base personnel.

“Just knowing we were being given some type of choice in where we end up makes me feel better about the move,” said Tech. Sgt. LeRoy Burke, 85th Group.