diff --git a/.github/actions/checkout-and-sync/action.yml b/.github/actions/checkout-and-sync/action.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..930626a1543d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/checkout-and-sync/action.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+#
+# Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+# or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+# distributed with this work for additional information
+# regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+# to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+# "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+# with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+# software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+# "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+# KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+#
+
+name: 'Checkout and Sync'
+description: >-
+  Check out apache/spark at a pinned ref and, on forks, squash-merge
+  the fork branch on top so the build tests the combined result.
+  Callers must add a bare 'actions/checkout@v6' step before invoking
+  this action so that the latest action definition is present in the workspace.
+inputs:
+  ref:
+    description: 'Git ref to check out from apache/spark'
+    required: true
+  set-safe-directory:
+    description: 'Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git safe.directory (needed inside containers)'
+    required: false
+    default: 'false'
+outputs:
+  head_sha:
+    description: 'The apache/spark HEAD SHA checked out (before the fork merge)'
+    value: ${{ steps.resolve-sha.outputs.head_sha }}
+runs:
+  using: 'composite'
+  steps:
+    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      with:
+        fetch-depth: 0
+        repository: apache/spark
+        ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
+    - name: Resolve apache/spark HEAD SHA
+      id: resolve-sha
+      shell: bash
+      run: echo "head_sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+    - name: Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git trust safe.directory
+      if: inputs.set-safe-directory == 'true'
+      shell: bash
+      run: git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
+    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
+      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
+      shell: bash
+      run: |
+        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
+        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
+        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index b0ae21f9801b..fc8f61af014d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       required: ${{ steps.set-outputs.outputs.required }}
       # Pinned so every downstream job checks out the same snapshot, even if `master` advances mid-run.
-      head_sha: ${{ steps.resolve-sha.outputs.head_sha }}
+      head_sha: ${{ steps.checkout.outputs.head_sha }}
       image_url: ${{ steps.infra-image-outputs.outputs.image_url }}
       image_docs_url: ${{ steps.infra-image-docs-outputs.outputs.image_docs_url }}
       image_docs_url_link: ${{ steps.infra-image-link.outputs.image_docs_url_link }}
@@ -80,22 +80,13 @@ jobs:
       image_pyspark_url: ${{ steps.infra-image-pyspark-outputs.outputs.image_pyspark_url }}
       image_pyspark_url_link: ${{ steps.infra-image-link.outputs.image_pyspark_url_link }}
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      id: checkout
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ inputs.branch }}
-    - name: Resolve apache/spark HEAD SHA
-      id: resolve-sha
-      run: echo "head_sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     - name: Check all modules
       id: set-outputs
       run: |
@@ -353,20 +344,12 @@ jobs:
       SKIP_MIMA: true
       SKIP_PACKAGING: true
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      # In order to fetch changed files
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
@@ -490,20 +473,12 @@ jobs:
           registry: ghcr.io
           username: ${{ github.actor }}
           password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        # In order to fetch changed files
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
           ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@ce360397dd3f832beb865e1373c09c0e9f86d70a
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
@@ -589,19 +564,12 @@ jobs:
       HIVE_PROFILE: hive2.3
       GITHUB_PREV_SHA: ${{ github.event.before }}
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
       with:
@@ -713,23 +681,13 @@ jobs:
       BRANCH: ${{ inputs.branch }}
       PYSPARK_TEST_TIMEOUT: 450
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      # In order to fetch changed files
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git trust safe.directory
-      run: |
-        git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
+        set-safe-directory: 'true'
     # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
@@ -899,23 +857,13 @@ jobs:
       SKIP_MIMA: true
       SKIP_PACKAGING: true
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
-      # In order to fetch changed files
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git trust safe.directory
-      run: |
-        git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
+        set-safe-directory: 'true'
     # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
@@ -989,18 +937,12 @@ jobs:
     name: Protobuf breaking change detection and Python CodeGen check
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     - name: Install Buf
       uses: bufbuild/buf-setup-action@a47c93e0b1648d5651a065437926377d060baa99 # v1
       with:
@@ -1051,22 +993,13 @@ jobs:
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.image_lint_url_link }}
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git trust safe.directory
-      run: |
-        git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
+        set-safe-directory: 'true'
     # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
@@ -1259,22 +1192,13 @@ jobs:
     container:
       image: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.image_docs_url_link }}
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Add GITHUB_WORKSPACE to git trust safe.directory
-      run: |
-        git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
+        set-safe-directory: 'true'
     # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
@@ -1459,18 +1383,12 @@ jobs:
     env:
       SPARK_LOCAL_IP: localhost
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
       with:
@@ -1590,19 +1508,12 @@ jobs:
       SKIP_MIMA: true
       SKIP_PACKAGING: true
     steps:
-    - name: Checkout Spark repository
+    - name: Bootstrap composite actions
       uses: actions/checkout@v6
+    - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+      uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
       with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
-        repository: apache/spark
         ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-    - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-      if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-      run: |
-        echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-        git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-        git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
     - name: Cache SBT and Maven
       uses: actions/cache@v5
       with:
@@ -1676,19 +1587,12 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 120
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
           ref: ${{ needs.precondition.outputs.head_sha }}
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       - name: Cache SBT and Maven
         uses: actions/cache@v5
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/maven_test.yml b/.github/workflows/maven_test.yml
index f8edd0b72336..69af2bca6f55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/maven_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/maven_test.yml
@@ -63,29 +63,20 @@ jobs:
     continue-on-error: true
     outputs:
       # Pinned so the build job checks out the same snapshot, even if the branch advances mid-run.
-      head_sha: ${{ steps.resolve-sha.outputs.head_sha }}
+      head_sha: ${{ steps.checkout.outputs.head_sha }}
     env:
       HADOOP_PROFILE: ${{ inputs.hadoop }}
       HIVE_PROFILE: hive2.3
       SPARK_LOCAL_IP: localhost
       GITHUB_PREV_SHA: ${{ github.event.before }}
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        id: checkout
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
           ref: ${{ inputs.branch }}
-      - name: Resolve apache/spark HEAD SHA
-        id: resolve-sha
-        run: echo "head_sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       - name: Cache SBT and Maven
         # TODO(SPARK-54466): https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/13341
         if: ${{ runner.os != 'macOS' }}
@@ -222,21 +213,12 @@ jobs:
       SPARK_LOCAL_IP: localhost
       GITHUB_PREV_SHA: ${{ github.event.before }}
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        # In order to fetch changed files
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
-          # Fall back to the branch when the precompile job failed before resolving the SHA.
           ref: ${{ needs.precompile-maven.outputs.head_sha || inputs.branch }}
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
       - name: Cache SBT and Maven
         # TODO(SPARK-54466): https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/13341
diff --git a/.github/workflows/python_hosted_runner_test.yml b/.github/workflows/python_hosted_runner_test.yml
index 7488a0b7b9d1..960267c2dabd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python_hosted_runner_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python_hosted_runner_test.yml
@@ -67,29 +67,20 @@ jobs:
     continue-on-error: true
     outputs:
       # Pinned so the build job checks out the same snapshot, even if the branch advances mid-run.
-      head_sha: ${{ steps.resolve-sha.outputs.head_sha }}
+      head_sha: ${{ steps.checkout.outputs.head_sha }}
     env:
       HADOOP_PROFILE: ${{ inputs.hadoop }}
       HIVE_PROFILE: hive2.3
       SPARK_LOCAL_IP: localhost
       GITHUB_PREV_SHA: ${{ github.event.before }}
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        id: checkout
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
           ref: ${{ inputs.branch }}
-      - name: Resolve apache/spark HEAD SHA
-        id: resolve-sha
-        run: echo "head_sha=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       - name: Cache SBT and Maven
         # TODO(SPARK-54466): https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/13341
         if: ${{ runner.os != 'macOS' }}
@@ -185,21 +176,12 @@ jobs:
       BRANCH: ${{ inputs.branch }}
       PYSPARK_TEST_TIMEOUT: 450
     steps:
-      - name: Checkout Spark repository
+      - name: Bootstrap composite actions
         uses: actions/checkout@v6
-        # In order to fetch changed files
+      - name: Checkout and sync Spark repository
+        uses: ./.github/actions/checkout-and-sync
         with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          repository: apache/spark
-          # Fall back to the branch when the precompile job failed before resolving the SHA.
           ref: ${{ needs.precompile.outputs.head_sha || inputs.branch }}
-      - name: Sync the current branch with the latest in Apache Spark
-        if: github.repository != 'apache/spark'
-        run: |
-          echo "APACHE_SPARK_REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" >> $GITHUB_ENV
-          git fetch https://github.com/$GITHUB_REPOSITORY.git ${GITHUB_REF#refs/heads/}
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' merge --no-commit --progress --squash FETCH_HEAD
-          git -c user.name='Apache Spark Test Account' -c user.email='sparktestacc@gmail.com' commit -m "Merged commit" --allow-empty
       # Cache local repositories. Note that GitHub Actions cache has a 10G limit.
       - name: Cache SBT and Maven
         # TODO(SPARK-54466): https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/13341