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Show H illtop HILLTOP TIMES SECAF discusses current, future challenges with 501st CSW 4 July 31, 2014 BY STAFF SGT. JARAD A. DENTON 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE ALCONBURY, United Kingdom — Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited Royal Air Force Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, England, to learn more about the mission of the 501st Combat Support Wing and to discuss with Airmen the current state of the Air Force. During her visit, James was able to meet with 501st CSW Airmen and see firsthand how their innovation and dedication powers the nation's only combat support wing. "I have full confidence that the Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (and) Air Forces Africa are well positioned to be forward, ready, now," James said. The "Forward, Ready, Now" concept allows USAFE - AFAFRICA Airmen to effectively and efficiently provide capabilities and execute missions in support of combatant commanders and national objectives. "The readiness of today is absolutely crucial," James said. "We need to be ready to execute our core competencies. Now, more than ever, we need the right training, equipment and people to accomplish whatever our nation asks of us." Forward-based, ready forces in the European theater have the flexibility to tailor themselves to rapidly deliver airpower to strategic locations all over the world. "I expect the operations tem- TECH. SGT. CHRISSY BEST/U.S. Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Brig. Gen. Douglas Cox speak with Airmen from the 501st Combat Support Wing at lunch July 17, during a visit to Royal Air Force Alconbury, England. More than fifty Airmen had the chance to sit and speak with James during lunch, explaining their parts of the mission of the 501st CSW. Cox is the director of U.S. Air Forces in Europe-United Kingdom. po of the Air Force to remain high for what I consider to be the foreseeable future," she said. "Of course we are winding down combat operations in Afghanistan as we enter a new phase, but it's a very busy rest of the world." James said despite looming budget cuts, the Air Force is committed to remaining fully engaged during these dynamic times. "In this dangerous world it's very important that our Air Force has top-notch readiness," she said. "Given the focus on one type of mission over the last dozen years, our full spectrum of readiness today is not where I would like it to be. We are making a big push to get those readiness levels up across the Air Force." James said the way to improve readiness is to focus on properly funding the Air Force and making tough decisions concerning aircraft and manpower, with the focus of reinvesting the savings in readiness. While the Air Force does not want to reduce its total force any more than necessary, future cuts are to be expected, James said. She promised to keep commanders informed of significant changes and urged all Airmen to take the initiative and research their eligibility and options through the many resources available to them. "We are trying as best we can to use voluntary incentives as the primary means to achieve reductions, and only go to involuntary reductions when we must," she said. "We have tried throughout the entire process, to build in time — time to allow Airmen to consider their records; time to allow Airmen to seek out their mentors, supervisors and leaders to get advice; and time to talk it over with their families." James also said the Air Force has restructured its focus on developing quality Airmen during these uncertain times. The new feedback system, which rolled out July 1, provides Airmen a unique opportunity to reflect on their own knowledge and awareness of Air Force responsibilities, accountabilities and core values. "This new evaluation system is really designed to make the performance review system much more meaningful for them, and to allow them to grow as Airmen," James said. "It involves continuous and honest feedback. That is the whole purpose of the new system." James said the future of the Air Force is dependent upon supervisors at all levels mentoring and developing their people into quality Airmen focused on tackling today's challenges through innovation and fiscallyconscious strategic planning. James said the relationship between supervisors and Airmen is at a critical juncture. "More than ever, supervisors must know their Airmen and use this system to align their individual goals and dreams with the needs of the force," she said. "This will allow us to vector Airmen toward a successful and productive career in the Air Force." Air Force focuses fourth round of VERA, VSIP on headquarters reductions Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON — In an effort to lead its force management actions with voluntary programs, the Air Force announced a fourth round of civilian workforce shaping measures beginning July 21. This follows the recent Air Force announcement on headquarters organization and staffing reductions. Those changes are designed to eliminate redundant activities and improve efficiencies while also satisfying previous secretary of defense direction to reduce management headquarters costs and staff levels by 20 percent. Hill Air Force Base will not participate in this round of force shaping measures, according to local personel officials. Voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay will be used to realign and rebalance the civilian force during the round IV program. Round If you like us, "like" us. IV is largely focused on Headquarters Air Forceassigned civilian employees, primarily located in the national capital region. Civilians at some major command locations who could be impacted by these changes will also participate. The remaining MAJCOMs will participate in a subsequent round. Civilian employees will receive VERA/VSIP interest surveys from their local civilian personnel sections on or about July 21 and responses are due by Aug. 1, unless an earlier date is established by local CPSs. Applicants approved for this round of VERA/VSIP must separate no later than Sep. 30. "As the Air Force works to streamline the management framework regarding basic organization structures and associated business practices, some civilian positions at the Headquarters Air Force level will be eliminated," said Heidi Liebel, the acting chief of the civilian force policy divi- sion. "The Air Force is committed to minimizing the adverse impacts of restructuring on our civilian employees, hence the use of VERA/VSIP to offer voluntary early separation or retirement incentives." There will be at least one more round of civilian workforce management as soon as all the MAJCOMs have the final details of all the changes associated with the 20 percent headquarters management review and reductions associated with realigning and consolidating functions under the Installation and Mission Support Center. "The Air Force recognizes the invaluable contributions of our civilian workforce, but also must manage the fiscal constraints under which the Department of Defense is operating," said Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, the director of force management policy. "We are focused on fine tuning the force while taking care to minimize the effect on our current permanent civilian workforce and their families." The processes available to rebalance or reskill the work force include using reduction-inforce procedures to determine overage employee priority placement rights into vacant positions, as well as providing the flexibility to waive qualifications and provide retained grade and pay if placed in a lower graded position. In that regard, the HAF and other participating bases will begin their preparations for submitting their requests for approval to use reductionin-force procedures in an effort to place employees in continuing permanent positions. "We are committed to using voluntary separation programs as much as possible before pursuing involuntary options," Kelly said. "As we progress toward the end of the fiscal year, it is apparent the HAF will need to rebalance skills of the workforce into vacant positions." For additional information about civilian employment, voluntary separation programs and other personnel actions, go to myPers at https://mypers. af.mil . 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