Editor’s Note: The “People First” section is compiled from information from the Air Force Personnel Center, TRICARE, 56th Force Support Squadron, Airman and Family Readiness Flight, Veterans Affairs, the civilian personnel office and armed forces news services. For the complete story, go to the web address listed at the end of the story.
Women’s roles evolved from ‘Lucy’ to ‘Murphy Brown’ after World War II
Editor’s note: This story deals with the contributions women made to the Air Force during the years following World War II up to shortly after the Gulf War.
Within the time span it took for women in television to transform from the female stereotypes portrayed on “I Love Lucy” to the more modern, late-century version found on “Murphy Brown,” women in the U.S. Air Force were making strides that far outpaced their Hollywood counterparts.
By the end of World War II, women were fully incorporated into the military, although still primarily limited to mostly clerical roles such as typists, clerks and mail sorters, and represented only about two percent of the force. Less than a year after the Air Force became its own service, President Harry Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, accepting women as a permanent part of the military. It was the beginning of the Women’s Air Force, and for the next 30 years would represent a separate, but equal part of the military.
http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123294200
SecAF, CSAF discuss changing active, reserve mix
The Air Force’s two top leaders discussed planned adjustments to the Air Force’s active and reserve components during a congressional hearing March 14.
During testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said the new defense strategic guidance led the service to propose changes in its force structure as part of its fiscal 2013 budget request.
“Because force structure changes have a ripple effect on manpower needs, our budget proposal calls for a reduction of 9,900 Air Force military personnel,” Donley said
By component, this amounts to reductions of 3,900 active-duty, 5,100 Air National Guard, and 900 Air Force Reserve personnel, he said.
“(Manpower and force structure) changes were prompted by the strategic guidance we received that asked us to reorient geographically … and recognizing that the overall size of the ground forces is going down,” Donley said.
http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123294006
Wingmen key to reducing sexual violence
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Wing Commanders’ Guide was sent out to wing commanders recently and contains statistics, facts and talking points to help leaders encourage healthy conversations among their Airmen, which senior leaders say is paramount to eliminating sexual crimes in the Air Force.
“Inspiring our Airmen to be good wingmen is not just a worthy undertaking, it is a critical mission enabling task that has hope of one day creating an Air Force without sexual assault,” said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley.
The guide gives leaders the tools necessary to enhance their leadership styles, change the force’s climate and environment, inspire community leadership, empower effective victim response efforts and enforce offender accountability standards.
“America’s Airmen deserve nothing less than our full devotion to eradicating the threatening behavior to their well being,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. “This crime threatens our people and for that reason alone, it is intolerable and incompatible with who and what we are.”
http://www.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123293930
Summer hire season is just around the corner
With summer just around the corner, now is the time to apply for temporary positions with the Air Force.
Annually, federal agencies post summer opening announcements for positions that range from office clerk to food service worker and more. Participation in the program varies from base to base, but all listings will be posted either at www.USAJOBS.gov or the non-appropriated fund site, https://www.nafjobs.org/default.aspx.
To be considered for a summer position, individuals should check the announcement for “area of consideration,” which identifies who may apply, to make sure they are eligible for consideration.
Student applicants must be enrolled in an accredited high school or enrolled/accepted for enrollment as degree-seeking students, taking at least a half-time course load in an accredited technical, vocational, two- or four-year college or university, or graduate or professional school.
VRA applicants must be disabled veterans or veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or veterans who Ҡwhile serving on active duty Ҡparticipated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded, or a recently separated veteran.
