NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/soc/veterans/1484

Internet Message Format | 1993-01-21 | 14.1 KB

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From: [e-mail] (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
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Subject: AF News Svc 01/21/93
Date: 21 Jan 1993 21:02:42 -0600
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036.  Personnel update
037.  Training, education changes
038.  Bombers move
039.  Free space-A travel
040.  Officer early release
041.  Personnel newsline
042.  Civilian jobs
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036.  Personnel update
by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
Air Force News Service
     WASHINGTON -- A trimmed-down force is good news in a smaller package as
Air Force people continue to excel daily, whether it's maintaining the air
bridge for delivering food to Somalia or deploying people and equipment to the
Persian Gulf, said the chief of Air Force personnel.
     The Air Force is busy "not only in a training mode but also in the
operation mode, doing the same kinds of things they would do in wartime," Lt.
Gen. Billy J. Boles said.
     More good news is the Air Force won't be in a separation mode for the
remainder of fiscal 1993, such as the one experienced in late-1992, Boles
said.
     The voluntary separation incentive and special separation bonus programs
covered both 1992 and 1993 with most losses occurring before the end of 1992.
     There are still some people separating and a few more involuntary
programs yet to take effect.  A selective early retirement board for
chaplains, line lieutenant colonels; and chaplains, judge advocate, biomedical
sciences and nurse colonels will meet Jan. 20.
     Other SERBs are set to meet this fiscal year with actual losses occurring
early in the next fiscal year.
     While Congress authorized, and the Defense Department supported, several
transition assistance programs in the last two years, not all the incentives
included in the 1993 Defense Authorization Act are fully functional yet.
     The details of how to apply the new programs have not been sorted out
within DOD, Boles said.
     "We hope those programs are in place and defined before we would need to
start encouraging additional losses in 1994 and '95."
     The same philosophy was applied to the civilian work force to encourage
voluntary losses, resorting to involuntary separations only when absolutely
needed and when tied to actions such as base closures or workload changes.
     So far, very few civilians have been separated under reduction in force
procedures, Boles said.  A proactive Air Force has worked hard to place people
as bases close down.
     The 1993 Defense Authorization Act included congressional authority to
offer civilian retirement and resignation incentives, similar to the military
SSB.
     A plan has been submitted to the Defense Department on how to use the
incentives.
     As people leave voluntarily, shortages in some military specialties mean
the Air Force will have to train replacements and some involuntary retraining
may be necessary.
     Maintaining the competence of the force throughout the drawdown is great
with people responding in a positive manner to these shortages, Boles said.
     "On a larger scale we have been very careful about the numbers of people
we let out in a particular specialty and grade."
     The VSI-SSB program was structured to limit the grades and specialties
the Air Force could afford to lose.
     Even with the force reductions, Boles does not see much of a change in
promotion opportunities throughout 1993 and into 1994, either in the officer
or enlisted ranks.  In fact, he expects them to stay the same in 1995 as
accessions are adjusted.
     Job opportunities will see some change as the force shrinks.
     As the Air Force gets smaller some people will move from their "single
niche" and broaden into other areas in a closely related specialty, Boles
said.  That is one reason senior leaders are looking for a complete
restructure of the Air Force specialty code system, both officer and enlisted.
     The goals are to try to reduce the number of specialties and amount of
specialization in both the officer and enlisted force, and give people a
broader responsibility in their specialties.
     The aim is to ensure there is a reasonable career path -- for example,
from E-1 to E-9 or 0-1 to the general officer grades -- in the various
specialties.
     The intelligence field is one area that has already made some major
changes in reducing the number of officer specialties.
     "We're starting in each career area with the functional manager,
developing a career training plan from day one through retirement -- what
training should be conducted in the school house at the 3-level stage, what
upgrade training is needed to the 5-level, what training should they receive
on the job and in the school house at the 7-level," Boles said.
     The work is ongoing as functional managers have utilization and training
workshops to determine requirements.  Schools will then incorporate those
requirements into their curriculum.  Career development courses will also be
updated.
     The Air Force still faces a challenge in the pilot management arena,
Boles said.
     The short-term problem is that the rapid drawdown is leaving the Air
Force without enough cockpits for its young pilots, while a long-term pilot
shortage is projected if low retention rates persist.  But, it has been
somewhat simplified in the last year and a half.
     "We have almost a year and a half experience in trying to work those two
problems, and commanders and the pilots themselves are much more familiar with
what's taking place," Boles said.
     The rules are in place, people understand them and the previous
uncertainty is reduced.  With the uncertainty declining, people return to
"business as usual" and it becomes less complicated.
     Progress is being made, he said.
     Some banked pilots are moving back into requalification earlier than
expected and the flow of pilots into fighters has been greater than
anticipated.
     Banking a pilot means an individual graduates from undergraduate pilot
training, then moves into non-rated duties for up to three years.
     Boles attributes the progress to commanders paying attention and
following the rules, and pilots recognizing opportunities offered by the
assignment system to turn the experience into a positive move.
     "Pilots are like anyone else in the Air Force.  They understand what
their job is and they welcome the opportunity to try something new," he said.
"All they ask is that we be fair with them, that we play the same cards with
everyone.  We're trying our best to do that."


037.  Training, education changes
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force will merge Air Training Command and
Air University to create the Air Education and Training Command, one of
several actions resulting from the 1992 year of training review, officials
said.
     The integration of ATC and AU, as well as other training and education
changes, will be effective July 1.
     The new command will be headquartered at Randolph AFB, Texas. Under the
reorganization, two numbered air forces and the university will report to the
new command.
     One numbered air force will manage technical training and be
headquartered at Keesler AFB, Miss.  A second air force, based at Randolph
AFB, Texas, will manage flying training.
     Air University will still operate out of Maxwell AFB, Ala., managing
professional military education at all levels, as well as legal and chaplain
training, and the First Sergeant Academy.
     Additionally, the Community College of the Air Force, ROTC and Officer
Training School will fall under AU.  They currently report to ATC.  Technical
training centers will become wings.
     Officials said creating the Air Education and Training Command aligns
training and education bases and functions under one commander, increasing the
authority and strength of the training system.
     The changes will provide a single, consolidated education and training
structure for both officer, enlisted and civilian members, they said.


038.  Bombers move
     WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force plans to move B-1 and B-52 bombers to Air
National Guard and Air Force Reserve units were announced Jan. 19 as part of
the long-standing commitment to the total force policy, officials said.
     Units will convert from their current aircraft to the heavy conventional
bombers.
     Specific decisions, including when and where, will be made after
necessary environmental analyses are done, officials said.


039.  Free space-A travel
     SCOTT AFB, Ill. (AFNS) -- Passengers traveling aboard Defense Department
owned and controlled aircraft on a space-available basis can now fly free of
charge.
     The defense secretary has rescinded the policy to collect the $10
space-available passenger fee worldwide, based on a commander in chief U.S.
Transportation Command recommendation agreed upon by Gen. Colin L. Powell,
chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
     "As we draw down, space-available travel is one of the benefits that
makes the turbulence of service life more tolerable," Powell said in a letter
to the secretary of defense.
     Active-duty members comprise 65 percent of all space-available
passengers, 23 percent are dependents and 12 percent are retired, he said.
The largest portion of all travelers are junior members making their way home
from worldwide duty locations.
     Space available is the only means many of them have for travel,
particularly at geographically isolated locations.
     Space-available passengers will still be required to pay federal
inspection fees and applicable taxes and charges.
(Courtesy of AMC News Service)


040.  Officer early release
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- More than 500 officers can separate early
through the officer early release program, even though the Air Force met the
bulk of its fiscal 1993 force reductions in fiscal 1992.
     "While we're not faced with reductions this year as great as those in
1992, the fact is we're still in the midst of a drawdown," said Maj. Gen.
Michael D. McGinty, Air Force Military Personnel Center commander.  "We'd like
to take those reductions through voluntary means if at all possible.
     "We would eventually lose the officers who leave through the early
release program, so whenever mission requirements allow, we're letting them go
early," the general explained.
     The fiscal 1993 program is not as liberal as last year's, according to
McGinty.
     "Last year we tried so hard to avoid separating people involuntarily, we
threw the doors open wide and let almost anyone who wanted to get out do so.
We even paid about 5,000 officers to leave".
     While the previous programs were needed, they created some imbalances in
manning and shortages in many career fields, he said.
     "Clearly, there was no way we could maintain last year's reduction pace,
especially considering the contingencies we're supporting, without breaking
the force.  We're taking a bit of a breather and allowing things to settle."
     People not eligible to apply for early release this year are pilots
filling cockpits in the C-130, C-5, F-4G, F-15E and E-3; F-
15E weapons systems officers; and C-130 navigators.
     People with Air Force Institute of Technology waivers will have to
reimburse the Air Force for the unfulfilled portion of their commitment.
     McGinty advises officers who apply not to make irrevocable commitments
based on the anticipated approval of their application.
     "Early release programs are temporary and usually pretty fluid," he said.
 "They're based on mission and end-strength requirements, so the large number
of changes we've experienced in the last few years make it impossible to apply
yesterday's programs to today's requirements.
     "By the same token, if there's an early release program next year,
eligibility could be different because the circumstances we face may be
different."
     Officers accepting jobs, moving families or making other financial
obligations before their applications are approved do so "at their own risk,"
McGinty said.
     More information is available from local personnel flights.


041.  Personnel newsline
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- The most recent Personnel Newsline,
formerly the Worldwide Air Force Personnel Issues and Retention Hotline,
includes an update on how the assignment system is working.
     The Jan. 22 recording also features information on professional military
education requirements for promotion, a need for PME instructors, expanded
transition benefits, and the lifting of blood donation restrictions.
     The newsline is available in the continental
United States at DSN 487-3081.  The appropriate newsline number
for individuals overseas is in their local telephone directory.


042.  Civilian jobs
     RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) -- Ten companies have been removed from the
civilian job listing and 43 new ones have been added to help people leaving
the Air Force and looking for work, Air Force Military Personnel Center
officials said.
     The jobs represent a wide array of positions.  Offerings include
opportunities in such areas as health care, sales, counseling, security,
telecommunications and management.
     The new list contains 270 entries and is available at family support
centers, or education offices on Air Mobility Command bases, for use by
military members leaving the service.
     Each entry on the list provides the employer's name, address, phone
number in most cases, and a description of the openings available.  Some
entries also list pay and benefits.
     Transition Assistance Program officials continually compile the list of
civilian employers who say they would like to hire servicemembers.  The most
current list was recently updated and sent to major commands throughout the
Air Force.
     Updated lists are sent to major commands whenever enough new companies,
positions or changes warrant redoing the list.  The commands will then forward
the lists to bases.

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