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Show NEWS July 26, 1991 support demands constant training High-tec- h Force News Service AFB, Ohio Mention military training today and one thinks of a requirement, but for the commander of Air Force Logistics Command, training is a never-endinnecessity for the people who buy and support high-tecAir Force systems. "The facts are that technology is moving so fast today that techniques WRIGHT-PATTERSO- difficult jump, sometimes even in McDonald said. AFLC has close to 90,000 people responsible for the buying, supplying, maintaining, repairing and transporting of everything needed to keep the Air Force ready for combat. Supporting the mission requires very sophisticated people and it takes very sophisticated test equipment which can take care of the more complex airplanes that are coming down the pike, McDonald said. "We have the ability today, for instance, to repair circuit cards that are 16 layers deep," McDonald said. "We're working on a process that will allow us to repair circuit cards that are much more complex than that because that will be a specific requirement in the case of the Advanced Technology mid-caree- r, by SSgt. David P. Masko Air 3 H.liTop T.mes 66 N g The facts are that technology is moving so fast today that techniques and software that were valid as recently as two years ago are not valid today. h and software that were valid as recently as two years ago are not valid today," Gen. Charles C. McDonald told Air Force News Service July 15. "We've got to keep our weapon system operators skilled, and we've got to give them the appropriate time in the air to develop and maintain those skills, as well as in the tactics in the changing aspects of aerial warfare as they develop." He also believes technology will dominate the future even more than it dominates the present, and therefore has made training one of the priorities of his command for moving ahead. "One of the anomalies of my business, however, is that while we're maintaining new kinds of equipment, we're still in the vacuum tube stage in certain airplane and communication equipment." 95 -- AFLC challenges of supporting 21st century technology. Keeping pace with old and new technologies is one of those balancing acts that all of the Air Force will be cons- tantly going through in the years ahead, he said. One new approach to improved training at the command's logistics centers is to bring the contractor that developed the technology into various knowledge and shops to give hands-oshow AFLC people exactly how a new system works. The command is also on its way to n establishing uniform processes and approaches that spell out required and optional training. McDonald believes that having a and developed work force is critical to quality performance and well-traine- d The command is therefore confronted by what McDonald calls "post-industri- al revolution skills" at the same time it is trying to meet the I V Gen. Charles C. McDonald customer satisfaction. It is also important to teach first and second line supervisors how to re LJ LJ VJ late to people, and how to properly manage the resources that have been assigned, he said. By providing education to its employees, AFLC is following the trend that is already well under way. Many major corporations now operate what amounts to employee universities. However, this smorgasbord of educational choices is not for everybody, and McDonald sympathizes with those people throughout the Air Force who are having trouble keeping up with training for the new technologies. "It is a difficult cultural adjustment," he said. "The only advice I can offer to those faced with training difficulties is to stay flexible." The key is to encourage people not to feel threatened by the technology, but instead to feel challenged by it and to feel proud that they can make that y LJ LjvA LJ VJ Military - commander LJ Fighter." The cornerstone of AFLC's success in supporting high-tecsystems has been its commitment to training even h while being confronted by dramatically reduced funding. "Unfortunately, there has been a consistent history in the DOD that one of the first places we cut back is education. That's wrong, but that's how it is," McDonald said. AFLC is attempting to fix shortfalls in education dollars by taking resources from its internal activities for training, he said. "I think it's working, but it's a very delicate balancing act. But as a management principle, it's something I am committed to." B Please see related story, Page 5. I v Civilian Personnel Convenient and Quick Cash!! Cash for personal needs, vacations, etc. WOW UP T $200 INSTANTLY!! Military ID or Civilian ID and Post Dated Check is all you need. IF YOU NEED INSTANT CASH, COME SEE US AT aurauiif mm 300 EAST GENTILE ST. OPEN I MON.-THUR- S. (Inside Layton 10 TO 5 SAT. 12 TO Mini-Mal- l) -4 FRI. LAYTON, UTAH 10 TO 5:30 |
