Air Force senior leaders addressed numerous strategic and personnel issues, from manpower re-alignment to uniform changes to nuclear enterprise initiatives, when they met at Wright-Patterson AFB (Ohio) for CORONA TOP June 4 through 6.
"This is a forum where we need to address everything from fundamental strategic issues to tactical challenges," said Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, in his opening remarks.
The senior leaders decided there will be manpower changes in a select number of Air Operations Centers to balance resources based on operational requirements and limited resources. The most significant effort still underway is the study of Air Forces Central, the warfighting component to the U.S. Central Command.
The results of a recent review of all rated staff officer positions, which identified a significant gap in available personnel, were also discussed. The leadership decided to re-categorize about 835 rated staff billets to non-rated positions, authorized funding to augment approximately 350 military-to-civilian conversions to fill some of the positions and endorsed the implementation of a rated management process led by the Aircrew Management Executive Council.
Because this was the first senior leader meeting after the release of the President's 2010 budget request, the leadership was briefed on future funding requirements as they relate to the fiscal year 2010 Presidential Budget and the development of next year's budget. The information and dialogue provided additional input for ongoing Air Force discussions in the Quadrennial Defense Review.
"In a resource constrained environment, we have to make tough choices on where to make investments," said Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force. "Forums like CORONA allow us to have frank, informed discussions about the strategic decisions ahead, as our investment strategy today will determine our Air Force of tomorrow."
"It was important that we lay out the FY10 budget decisions and fiscal guidance for the future so we could all see the full picture of where we're committing Air Force funds and what risks and opportunities we're considering in various programs," he said.
Leadership also identified some of the key requirements for the first 100 days of the new 24th Air Force, including establishing configuration standards for the Air Force Global Information Grid, instilling operations rigor in the Air Force network and updating key doctrine and Air Force Instructions to include cyber operations.
"Cyberspace is a contested domain which needs to be managed consistently across the Service," General Schwartz said. "As we bring 24th Air Force on line, we're going to see their work in cyberspace is going to impact all of us, and we all have a responsibility to follow the standards they set for Air Force networks."
The senior leaders also received an update on recent uniform initiatives, including the new material for the physical training uniform and the sage green leather boot to be tested this summer. A final decision on the heritage coat was deferred until 2010, after current uniform challenges are resolved.
"We owe it to our Airmen to fix or improve the uniforms they are currently wearing before we institute another uniform change," General Schwartz said.
Also of importance to Airmen will be the changes to the physical fitness program agreed to by the senior leaders. Scheduled to start in January 2010, changes to the physical fitness test standards will include a requirement to test twice a year. Testing will also be consolidated on all installations within a Fitness Assessment Cell, not administered within the units.
"It is crucial the physical fitness test be applied in a consistent manner across the force," said the general. "The changes to the testing standards will be clearer and more understandable and provide our Airmen with explicit feedback on how they can improve their fitness level."
As part of the Nuclear Oversight Board, senior leaders received an update on the status of the Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap initiatives. In the last six months inspections have been standardized, a central authority for nuclear weapons sustainment was established and key nuclear billets and required expertise were identified. In the near future, the Air Staff and Air Force Global Strike Command will align education, training and career development requirements to give personnel the necessary nuclear expertise, create strategic plans and long-term requirements for the nuclear enterprise and support the Nuclear Posture Review now being conducted by the Department of Defense.
Additional issues which were briefed and require further study include the full integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and an operator career path for the Air Force and the designation of certain irregular warfare organizations.
(AFNS)
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