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Show "ipnnni n i ii i Hill AFB, I- Utah H no i ii 84056-582- 4 - www.hilItoptirnos.com Vol. hilltop.pahill.af.mil 57 No. 19, May 3, 2001 Preparation i INSIDE: ' i I fj 4? Photo by 'mJl- - by Tech Sgt. Carl Norman AFMC Public Affairs AFB, Ohio (AFMCNS) More interns, a voluntary separation program for force shaping and bonuses are new weapons Air Force Materiel Command officials have armed themselves with as they start their second year of the work force shaping war. The enemy is the fact that nearly half or more of AFMC's civilian work force are eligible to retire in the next five years and the bulk of the command's experience and corporate knowledge will walk out the door with them. Add to that a decade or more of downsizing and not hiring people and you now WRIGHT-PATTERSO- N Pt5 f..' i r I , Hill - YcuJi cuxrntr have a severely decreased work force and not many people waiting in line to take over, said Polly Sweet, AFMC's human resource division chief. IZzzi wir.3 foil . - 4.. a-- Fi;2s15 . ..v;:i budgeting process, to begin a centrally funded cooperative education program, starting with 250-30student workers. These would be college students who will then have the option to work for the Air Force full time right after graduation. "This give us a chance to bring more people in the pipeline " Sweet said. "Once we get them on board, we can start training and preparing them so when we need them, 0 they'll be there. The co-o- p pro- gram is a great way to show young people what we have to offer o this would be a great program for us." IK)king at monetary type incentives, Sweet said Congress ajproved B See Weapons, page 10 lieutenant is Times award finalist to submit the nomination. That humble response shows the qualities Albarino holds that are recognized by those she works with. As a munitions maintenance officer in charge of the base's munitions flight, and a single parent, she faces daily challenges with determination, faith and a positive attitude. "She has raised the bar of standards for all of us," said 2nd Lt. Neal VanHouten, 649th MUNS. by Sue Berk 1st Lt. Laurie Albarino, 649th.Munitions Squadron, is one of four Air Force finalists, for the first Air Force Times Airman of the Year Award. Army Times Publishing Co. publisher of the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps Times started the award this year to honor soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, who embody the finest qualities of the members of their branch of service, according to Nancy Tucker, director of military market develop- who may not always be recognized. . The overall winners from each of the four services will be flown to Washington, D.C., for a May 17 Capitol Hill awards ceremony,-hosteHie three by Sen. John McCain, Air Force runners-u- p will be featured in the May 14 Air Force Times and the overall winner will be published in the May 21 issue. "I'm thrilled (Lieutenant Albarino) got selected one of the four. I got my fingers crossed and I'm praying that she gets selected as the Air Force winner," Lt CoL Barry Olson, 649th MUNS commander said. Nominated by her peers, Albarino's reaction was one of appreciation saying she was impressed that they thought enough of her POOR COPY , fessionals, according to Gen. Lester 6, "She expects nothing less than ment and the general coordinator for the award program. It also acknowledges the accomplishments of junior military people c mix of civilian scientists, engineers, craftsmen and other pro- Lylcs, AFMC commander. "We're at the front of the battle "We need more people in the in terms of the need," Lyles said. pipeline; without capable, trained u "It's still a struggle, but we've just ; employees, this command will not started." be able to get our work done," During the first year of battle, Sweet said. "We can have the great--, AFMC work force shaping warest systems in the world, but they riors successfully arranged to get are useless unless we have qual- 100 of the 120 additional interns ified people to operate and test each year the Air Force is planthem." ning to fund in its fiscal 2002 budTo fight this battle the command's get. The Air Force is scheduled senior leadership must work aggresto fund 120 per year from 2002-200and AFMC has been promise! sively with Congress and others 100 of these each year, according to implement the work force shaping initiatives, which are designed to Sweet. to replenish and reshape the work Sweet also said Air Force officommand so has force the the right cials have asked, in their fiscal 03 Hilltop Times staff r Martin Command needs more trained people Earth Dzy ft" Smkf Airman Rut Manuel Gaucln, above, cement contractor, tmoothea out. the frteh cement poured at Bldg. 1150, the new Employable Medical Syatema facility which la under construction. Jon Boudrero, right. Cache Valley Electric, dlga a trench to lay grounding pipe for a parking lot light pole. The facility la slated to be completed by the end of this month. O outstanding work from both peers and subordinates, and if the stan- dards are not upheld, she's not afraid to tell us. She strives to d at Lt. Laurie Albarino n issues. ; The toughest part of her job is trying to stick to her standards, staying on top of projects, making sure everything is running smoothly and giving the employees the tools they need to perform. The 694th MUNS is one of two squadrons that receive, store, ship, maintain, account for and generate Standard Air Munitions bility and making them proud of their PackagesStandard Tanks, Racks, Adapters and Pylon Packages to support contingenaccomplishments." "Her number one priority is taking care of cies worldwide. The squadron has about 170 her people," VanHouten said. "She takes the people with 35 of those in the flight under time to listen and cares about them and their Albarino. achieve new goals and is not afraid to take on any task." Albarino said the best part of her job is personnel management "My main goal is not only to make a place where people want to come to work, but to shape lives and positively influence all the young airmen I cpme in contact with," Albarino said. "I try to do that by holding them accountable for their actions, giving them responsi- 1 |