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Show Hilltop HILLTOP TIMES National Commission reviews 'life-cycle' manpower costs 4 TIMES Sept. 5, 2013 BY COL. BOB THOMPSON Air Force Reserve Public Affairs W ASHINGTON — Members of the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force interviewed current and former senior defense leaders Aug. 27 about one of the service's major expenses. The commission sought information about the "fully-burdened lifecycle manpower costs" of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen. Shrinking defense dollars coupled with raising manpower costs could determine how much Air Force the country can afford. The manpower costs for each component could affect the commission's recommendations about the force. "The Air Force Reserve supports the Reserve Forces Policy Board findings that the cost of a Reserve component member is about one-third that of their active component counterpart," said Lt. Gen. James F. Jackson, chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command. Appointed by the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission is reviewing the Air Force's structure to determine if and how it should be changed to meet future missions and funding challenges. The commission's report and recommendations are due to the president by Feb. 1. Numerous studies have analyzed manpower costs, but the Department of Defense and various think tanks have yet to agree. If members of the commission can help establish the right cost model, they will be able to recommend to Congress the most costeffective and operationally efficient ratio of active and Reserve component forces. "Reserve component manpower costs are about 34 percent of an active-duty officer and 37 percent for an active-duty enlisted member annually," Jackson said based on a computer program called the "Individual Cost Assessment Model." "The earlier the member affiliates with the Reserve component, the lower the overall life-cycle cost," he said. The model captures the cost of career events. These include recruitment, training, permanent-change-of-station moves, deployments, promotions, transitions between Reserve categories, changes in component affiliations such as active duty to Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard, separations and retirements. The model accounts for base pay, housing and subsistence, medical and retirement costs, training costs, moving costs, and other compensations, entitlements and benefits. The Individual Cost Assessment Model captures the initial accession and training costs of an active-duty member who may transition to the Air Force Reserve, retaining that initial investment for the nation. "We need to move toward an agreement on manpower costs," said Jackson. "This will allow for an 'apples to apples' comparison and establish common ground, moving the discussion forward to shape the Air Force's future structure." The commissioners asked Jackson to provide insight into which day-today missions of the Air Force could potentially be shifted to the Air Reserve Component. "The Air Force Reserve maintains a diverse portfolio of capability in all 13 Air Force core functions," Jackson said. "Future mission set migration could include rapidly-evolving areas such as space; cyberspace; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; as well as more traditional mission sets such as Rapid Global Mobility and Global Precision Attack." Jackson was asked his opinion on merging the Reserve and National Guard. AFSC's Road to $1 Billion paved with cost avoidance, project savings BY BRANDICE J. O'BRIEN Tinker AFB Public Affairs T INKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. — In a time where budget constraints and sequestration pose bumps, uneven pavement and reconstruction in the Department of Defense, Air Force Sustainment Center senior leadership has mapped a detour. With support from personnel, the center is traveling the "Road to $1 Billion." To date, the center is nearly two-thirds of the way there, having already saved more than $600 million. Presented at the tactical level, the "Road to $1 Billion" is an internal goal to focus on savings and cost avoidance. Sequestration drives a $500 billion reduction across the DoD over a 10year period, which breaks down to $50 billion a year. The Air Force's piece of that is estimated at $12 billion a year. To achieve a lofty goal, officials said the Air Force needs to be more effective. "It's pretty amazing. Every organization has contributed," said Ross Marshall, AFSC executive director. "Air Force Sustainment Center Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield and I are so proud of everyone for taking on the initiative to save money," he said. In late December, Gen. Litchfield and Marshall discussed tactical maneuvers to achieving cost avoidance and savings within the sustainment center, a $16 billion business. They proposed a $1 billion goal and asked personnel to submit projects and plans that showed a cost avoidance or savings. The initiative kicked off in January, but they allowed savings that had been recognized since the start of fiscal 2013 to be incorporated into the plan. Though there are guidelines and qualifiers, the various wings and com- "It's pretty amazing. Every organization has contributed." SENIOR AIRMAN JACOB JIMENEZ/U.S. Air Force The Reserve Forces Policy Board findings show the cost of a Reserve component member, like Airman 1st Class James Brewer, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., is about one-third that of an active component counterpart, according to Air Force Reserve Command officials. "All three components — active duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard — are crucial to our nation," he said. "We have different (administrative control) lines and authorities; however, that is OK. All three bring something to our nation's defense, and that diversity serves the nation well as we have seen most recently as readiness cuts went into effect due the sequestration." The commission is led by the Honorable Dennis M. McCarthy, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general and the previous assistant secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs at the Pentagon. The vice chairwoman is the Honorable Erin Conaton, a former under secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and a former under secretary of the Air Force. "As the Air Force looks to the future, one thing is clear," said the general. "Our men and women wish to continue serving and putting their combat-tested, operational experience to use. The Citizen Airmen of your Air Force Reserve are ready and continue to play a key role in the Total Force of today and the future Air Force in 2023." Jackson cited recent surveys by the Defense Manpower Data Center, which confirm that the vast majority of Reservists and Guardsmen wish to continue to serve and that their employers still strongly support them. We appraise, buy and sell estate items Gold & Silver Coins-Investments it , over 50 years in business " GO~NS ~t" 801-393-9419 Mon. - Fri. 7:00 am - 6:00 pm Open Saturdays ate:i 15ECE' Most Insurance Plans Accepted. Payment Plans, Credit Cards, Military Dental Plans. EMERGENCIES WELCOME! www.hillfielddentistry.com ALL EYEGLASSES 'off It A ONE or w% ROSS MARSHALL, AFSC executive director plexes are encouraged to offer costsavings proposals and projects. The financial management directorate lines up the criteria and computes the cost analysis. If there are savings, the total is added to the "Road to $1 Billion" tally. "We have to change our mindset from operating in a war-time environment scenario to peacetime and training environment," Marshall said. "We have to redefine what readiness means and what cost-effective readiness means." Continuous process improvements and rapid improvement events have helped tremendously. But, so have changing buying-approach processes. In the past, supply chain managers often went to original equipment manufacturers to buy engine or aircraft parts. Now, they're shopping around to different suppliers for a better price. The modification has saved the supply chain nearly $300 million. "I expected the maintenance complexes and supply chain management wings to jump in and claim most of the success. They are the biggest drivers, but I was pleasantly surprised by the involvement of everybody," Marshall said. "The air base wings, staff offices and support offices took hold of it and said 'we're going to be a part of it, too and we're going to do everything we can to help.' Seeing every organization contribute is a great tribute to the people of the sustainment center." • 50% off 2nd pair must be of equal or lesser value as the first pair purchased. Purchase of two complete pairs of eyeglasses required. Second pair must be purchased with the first pair and at the same date and time for the same person. Cannot be combined with any other discount, coupon or insurance plan. All eyeglasses and contact lens purchases require a current, valid prescription. No dispensing fee. Offer expires 10126/2013. © 2013 National Vision, Inc. BUY CONTACT LENSES ONLINE AT EXCHANGE www.MILITARYCONTACTS.net EXCHANGE CONCESSIONAIRE Visit us in the Base Exchange Building 412 801-776-3368 Eye Exams Available by Dr. Michael Larsen Independent Doctor of Optometry • TRICARE accepted. • Appointments are available. • Walk-ins are welcome. |