AFRC realigns its three numbered air forces

  • Published
  • By Maj. Andra P. Higgs
  • 4 AF public affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  As part of continuing efforts aimed at assisting personnel affected by the realignment of Air Force Reserve Command's three numbered air forces, March Field base officials provided a mass briefing during the January unit training assembly to assist and provide traditional reserve, air reserve technicians and civilian employees impacted by this administrative action with career options.

"The realignments give each NAF a distinct mission set, enabling them to more efficiently and effectively oversee the readiness of their subordinate units," said Col. Greg Vitalis, Headquarters AFRC program manager at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "These realignments are administrative only. They do not involve any changes to the unit's geographic location."

The administrative shift also includes 4th Air Force picking up management responsibility for four additional wings (the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.; 439 AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; 512 AW, Dover AFB, Del.; and 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.). Here, locally, the projected changes will result in the number of support personnel assigned to 4th AF dropping from about 185 to just beyond 50 by September 30, 2012. This projected personnel end strength will include civilians, ARTS and traditional reservists.

"We have options and it's our job to explain those to you," said Lt. Col. Dennis Seymour, 4th AF personnel director, during the opening minutes of the briefing. Additional presenters included Air Force recruiters, base leadership and civilian manpower officials who provided information and one-on-one sessions with individuals to explain future employment options and AFRC locations with current job openings. "Our goal is to help everyone make a decision before September 30. The clock is ticking and we don't want people to go to sleep on that."

The options base officials communicated to all affected employees included (but, were not limited to) transferring to other units, retraining for another job, shifting to other Air Force components or a sister service and initiating a break in service to include retirements for those who are eligible. Officials gave detailed information about what laws, policies and instructions govern some available transitional personnel categories. They also provided direction on where to find and how to complete documents required for organizational transfers for continued participation.

According to 4th AF manpower officials, briefings, updates and counseling sessions will continue until all impacting resource actions are complete. Personnel seeking additional information should contact Chief Master Sgt. Felix Fernandez.