Kunsan commissary wins big in IG inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  Scoring best on the peninsula proves Kunsan's commissary is the best of the best after receiving a 103.7 compliance rating from the Defense Commissary Agency's Inspector General here recently.

"When they inspected Camp Casey and they received a 101.1, we thought that was unbeatable," said Michael Durrence, Kunsan AB Commissary store manager. "We are remote and we just try to take care of our Airmen."

And taking care of the Wolf Pack is exactly what Durrence and his team have done. With an increased exercise schedule to maintain Kunsan's ability to provide immediate combat support, the commissary has indeed been tested time and time again to ensure Kunsan Airmen have the fuel necessary to complete their mission.

"The Kunsan commissary provides the Wolf Pack with world class service," said Col. Suzanne S. Kumashiro, 8th Mission Support Group commander. "Their outstanding rating--best in PACAF and perhaps in the USAF--is a true reflection of their commitment to excellence in taking care of our Airmen."

Now not only is Kumashiro proud, but also Durrence's employs as well.

"We are all very happy," said So Un Pak, Kunsan AB Commissary employee. "But we have to give many thanks to the grateful responses we received from so many of Kunsan's Airmen."

In agreement with Pak, Durrence said they couldn't have received such a prestigious rating without the great show of positive comment cards Kunsan Airmen provided them with. He said that although the comments cards didn't count for much in the overall rating, it did show the IG team how dedicated the commissary's staff is to their customers.

"The responses our Airmen provided the inspectors weighed heavily on their minds," Durrence said. "Our Airmen here are great. They gave us high marks when the IG team interviewed them."

The age old mission outlook, 'One team one fight', proved true for Kunsan's commissary and is one reason Durrence said he prefers being here more than any other commissary he's been employed at.

"I love this commissary," he said. "The people here are so supportive. I have some of the most hardworking and dedicated employees anyone could've ever asked for."

Durrence said the majority of his staff, other than himself and another American, are Korean nationals. He said this really shows how committed the Koreans are to supporting the U.S. Air Force's presence on Kunsan.

"This level of performance exemplifies what it means to be part of the Wolf Pack and we're very proud of Durrence and his professional commissary team," Kumashiro said.