From: CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil>
Subject: AF News Svc 01/21/93
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 17:44:31 GMT


From CMSgt Mike Bergman <bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil>

036.  Personnel update
037.  Training, education changes
038.  Bombers move
				  &    &    &
				  &    &    &
				  &    &    &
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.

--
     __________________________________________________________________
    |            Air Force News Agency (AFNEWS)                        | 
    |           Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, USA                       | 
    |               bergman@afpan.pa.af.mil                            |  
    |__________________________________________________________________|  



Newsgroups: sci.military