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Statement of Captain Chennel McClung
Officer In Charge of Personnel Employments and Relocations
28th Mission Support Squadron Ellsworth Air Force Base South Dakota

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY

Oversight Hearing on transition assistance for members of active duty, Reserve, and National Guard servicemembers and education benefits for the total military force
Monday, June 19, 2006, 9:00 a.m.

28 Operation Support Squadron Auditorium
1956 Scott Dr, Ellsworth AFB, SD

Chairman and Committee Members, I am Captain Chennel McClung of the United States Air Force and I thank you for the opportunity to speak here today. I will be sharing a brief description of my Officer Force Shaping experience and of the Transitional Assistance I received during that period.

After being in the military for three years I was faced with meeting the 2006 Officer Force Shaping board to determine if I would be allowed to remain on active duty. I have been stationed at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas and here at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, South Dakota as the Officer in Charge of Personnel Employments and Relocations. I was in an awkward position because, as the Officer Promotions program manager, I would also oversee the process of notifying eligible individuals that they were meeting this Force Shaping board. Ms. Galbreath and the staff at the Family Support Center immediately put out information about the Transition Assistance Program for all effected officers to find out what their options were.

The results of the board were announced on 10 May 2006. I was fortunate enough to be retained, but some very close friends will be separating from the services no later than 29 September 2006. If we had not had the opportunity to attend the Transition Assistance classes none of us would be prepared for this life-altering change.

Chairman and Committee Members, thank you again for hearing my testimony today.