People First June 15, 2012

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.
 

AF releases new special duty assignment pay table

Airmen in some special duty assignments are now receiving adjustments in special duty assignment pay, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

Based on recommendations following a routine biennial review of the program, Pentagon officials have modified the program to ensure Air Force application meets legal criteria, said Master Sgt. Robin Childers, the AFPC special programs branch manager.

Additions include eligible operations intelligence Airmen serving at Operating Location A, 68th Network Warfare Squadron, Ft. Bragg, N.C., and Air Force Specialty Code 1T0XX — or survival, evasion, resistance and escape — Airmen assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., at the 336th Training Group, the 336th Training Support Squadron or the 22nd Training Squadron, or a 22nd TRS subordinate unit in Colorado, Alabama or Texas.

Special duty assignment pay will be reduced for military free-fall parachute instructors at Yuma Proving Grounds, and air transportation Airmen performing aerial duty will no longer be authorized special duty assignment pay, said Childers.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123305678

Partnership helps military spouses find employment

As the wife of the Air Force chief of staff, Suzie Schwartz has the opportunity to meet with Air Force families stationed all across the country and around the world. And when she does, one issue that comes up time and again is spouse employment.

During a recent interview, Schwartz said a relatively new program called the Military Spouse Employment Partnership is addressing the career challenges husbands and wives of active-duty military members face.

“The MSEP is really just about helping spouses find jobs,” Schwartz said. “It’s teaming up spouses who need jobs with corporations and organizations that have jobs … and offering résumé services and interview skills.”

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123305035

Attaché duty applications due in July

Line of the Air Force active-duty officers interested in opportunities to help build and sustain international relationships have until July 7 to apply for attaché officer duty at locations ranging from Burundi to Russia, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced June 7.

AFPC and the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs are accepting applications for senior defense official/defense attaché, air attaché and assistant air attaché duty at 10 locations, with selectees reporting for training between January and April 2013, said Maj. Amy Rammel, the AFPC international affairs assignments chief.

“Attachés officially represent the secretary of defense, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, secretary of the Air Force and Air Force chief of staff to the host country defense ministry,” Rammel explained. “They provide critical advice to the U.S. ambassador and country team and directly support our efforts to fight global terrorism.”

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123305135

CSAF: Balance required to avoid ‘hollow force’

The Air Force chief of staff reinforced the importance of avoiding a “hollow force” to a group of civic and industry leaders attending the Air Force Association’s monthly breakfast June 11.

Gen. Norton Schwartz said the Air Force must secure the proper balance between three separate but closely related dimensions: readiness, modernization and force structure.

“A shortfall in one or more of these dimensions leads to insufficiencies that also are distinct but intertwined — respectively: a hollow, aging, and poorly postured force,” Schwartz said. “This complex interplay is why the oft-referenced ‘delicate balance’ is so difficult to achieve.”

For the Air Force, an important part of achieving this balance is ensuring it has the right mix of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen and force structure, Schwartz said.

To that end, Air Force leaders in all three components worked together on the fiscal 2013 budget request and related strategic planning to understand the compromises that can and must be made to maintain an effective, efficient force, he said.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123305611