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Show Hilltop 4 TIMES HILLTOP TIMES May 30, 2013 New Workforce Development Program implemented for AFMC maintainers A Adobe Digital Government Solutions classee Solutions June 4 BY SANDRA B. WIMBERLY Chief, Air Force Materiel Command Logistics Functional Office W RIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — A new career development program has been deployed to the Air Force Materiel Command maintenance community. The Maintenance Workforce Development Program is being implemented to provide a standard approach and increased opportunities for maintenance personnel to broaden their careers. The Logistics Advisory Council (LAC) identified a need for development programs particularly focused on the federal wage system community, and issued a call for action. According to Lorna Estep, AFMC deputy director of logistics and co-chairwoman of the LAC, "AFMC needs a standardized training and workforce development approach in place. We need to take the time now to develop programs and broaden opportunities for our employees to gain the knowledge and skills needed for future enterprise logistics roles." With this general vision, the LAC chartered an integrated process team (IPT) to look into current development efforts and propose a standardized approach. The IPT was led by the AFMC Logistics Functional Office with representatives from each of the command's air logistics complexes (Hill AFB; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Robins AFB, Ga.), as well as Edwards AFB, Calif.; the Air Force Personnel Center and AFMC's Directorate of Manpower, Personnel and Services (MWDP). Over the past 18 months, the team reviewed career development programs on-going at each of the air logistics complexes and identified best practices, which MWDP helped the team define the concept. The MWDP provides a multi-tiered approach for profes- sional development. The first tier, modeled after the Air Force Developmental Opportunities Program and the Tinker Opportunities for Professional Service, is called the GS Developmental Opportunities Program (MWDP-GS) and is targeted toward federal wage system (FWS) and lower grade general schedule employees. Under this program, FWS and lower grade GS employees may apply and be competitively selected for developmental positions (GS-05 target -09) within the maintenance area. There are currently five occupational series eligible for the MWDP-GS: GS-0301, Miscellaneous Administrative; GS-0343, Management and Program Analyst; GS0895, Industrial Engineer Technician/Planner; GS-1152, Production Control; and GS-1670, Equipment Specialist. When a vacancy becomes available in one of these five series, the hiring official will make a determination as to whether the position could be filled as a developmental program position. If so, the position will be re-designated and advertised for fill action as an MWDP developmental position. Once selected, the employee will be placed on a Formal Training Plan to guide development and will be provided with quarterly feedback to ensure successful progression. TheF1P identifies required training geared for a specific job series that all personnel selected for MWDP-GS will complete, along with duty-specific tasks and training as determined by the supervisor. In order to be promoted, an employee must spend at least one year time-in-grade in the position and must successfully complete the training requirements identified in the FIP. This cycle will continue until the employee reaches the target grade of the position. Civilian employees interested in a developmental position within maintenance should monitor the USAJOBS website for announcements and follow the instructions on the job announcement to apply. Second tier The second tier of the MWDP is designed for Wage Leader development. IPT members interviewed supervisors at their respective locations and collected information concerning common knowledge gaps with newly assigned WLs. That information — along with training identified that could be used to close the gaps — culminated in the Wage Leader Development Program (MWDP-WL). The MWDP-WL includes a series of developmental courses new WLs complete to help provide the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the new position and assists with making the transition from mechanic/worker to leader. Under this program, new WLs must complete the identified training within one year of assignment. "We applaud leadership's desire to develop our maintenance workers and provide them a path to transition to the general schedule," said Troy Tingey, American Federation of Government Employees Council 214 president, during a briefing on the program. "A program like this has been needed for a long time." For the maintenance WG and WL communities, MWDP offers a great opportunity for professional, as well as personal, growth. The MWDP applies only to the air logistics complexes; however, other AFMC maintenance organizations may adopt the program if desired. For more information, see AFMCI36-2602, Maintenance Workforce Development Program — which was published March 1, and provides eligibility requirements and other program information — or contact your local MWDP of contact (Hill AFB, Kevin Moore and Steve Tharp; Tinker AFB, Beverly Brown and Barry George; Robins AFB, Abe Banks; HQ AFMC/A4, Sandra Wimberly and Steve McBride). dobe is hosting Suite and Adobe Experia free training event on Tuesday, ence Manager. The class will run June 4, at the Davis Confrom 7:30 a.m. to noon. ference Center. It will For more information, focus on Adobe Digital go to http://goo.gl/ywidM. Govenment solutions inTo register visit http:// cluding Adobe Creative goo. gl/BkhuN. *e l * L. ROBINSON Defense Commissary Agency F ORT LEE, Va. — When furloughs are implemented, most military commissaries will close one day a week on Mondays, the Defense Commissary Agency's top official said. The closures will be for up to 11 days between July 8 and Sept. 30. "We know that any disruption in commissary operations will impact our patrons. "Also, we understand the tremendous burden this places on our employees, who, when furloughed, will lose 20 percent of their pay," said Joseph H. Jeu, DeCA's director and CEO. "We determined that Monday closures would present the least pain for our patrons, employees and industry partners," Jeu added. Closing commissaries on Mondays would be in addition to any day stores are routinely closed. The 148 stores that routinely close on Mondays would also close the next normal day of operation. Other than the furlough day, there are no other changes planned for store operation hours. The announcement comes as DeCA follows Department of Defense protocols related to the automatic federal government budget reductions, known as sequestration, which began March 1. Like most DoD activities, DeCA is mandated by DoD to furlough its civil service employees. Furlough notices are scheduled to be delivered to DeCA employees between May 28 and June 5. DeCA has 247 commissaries with more than 16,000 employees operating in 13 countries and two U.S. territories. Furloughs will impact all of DeCA's more than 14,000 U.S. civilian employees. As sequestration continues, commissary customers can quickly find out about any changes to their local store's operating schedule by going to , www.commissaries.com clicking on the "Locations" tab, then "Alphabetical Listing," finding their store and clicking on "local store information." Patrons are reminded that because sequestration is so fluid, DeCA's plan for this budget-cutting measure is subject to change. DeCA decided on Monday closures after weighing the potential disruption to patrons and suppliers of having rolling furloughs, where closure dates would differ from store to store. Universal Monday closures are less disruptive to shoppers and the agency's industry partners — vendors, suppliers and distributors — who deliver products daily to DeCA's commissaries. Store staffs overseas include a mix of U.S. and local national employees. Because they are not U.S. government employees, local national employees are not subject to this furlough actions. Select locations overseas will open if they have an adequate local national staff. However, if an overseas store is closed, its local national staff will report to work and perform other storerelated duties. In January, DoD released guidance to allow defense components to plan for potential budget cuts by reducing operating costs. In line with that direction, DeCA later executed the following budget-cutting measures: • A hiring freeze on all outside hires. • Curtailment of official travel for all conferences, training, and any other events and activities considered noncritical to the agency's mission. • Cancellation of the agency's May Worldwide Case Lot Sales for all commissaries. Instead, stores are conducting smallerscale events such as outdoor sidewalk sales. • Curtailment of all overtime and compensatory time unless deemed mission-critical. • Review of contract services to restrict any increases. 4St1 1/4 4 SPRING FEVER? We have your awe! Must plissent cattjtro " 293 S. State Street, Clearfield UT • 801-5' blackvelvetboutique.com Its Official!! Tonyburgers has Utah's best burger! ONYBURGERS1 ND SALAD Now in CLINTON! 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