How would you improve the management and assignment of our experienced personnel?

2015-06-24T04:47:57-04:00

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 5:00 AM

2015-06-24T05:00:10-04:00

Not sure what your question is asking sir? What problem/s would you identify with the current process?

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Jun 24 at 2015 5:31 AM

2015-06-24T05:31:26-04:00

I would consider giving our personnel a choice between three duty stations and more longevity at the location assigned. I think less personnel movement will be beneficial. It allows troops some stability to buy homes, raise families, plan for the future, children stability in schools.
It allows personnel experienced in the unit/organization to maintain continuity, contribute to organization assigned long-term, grow and develop relations with peers/ superiors. Allow opportunity to settle into the culture of units.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 24 at 2015 8:48 AM

2015-06-24T08:48:10-04:00

One of the Col's mentioned something the other day which I thought was a great idea, and I think can be expanded on.

Convert ALL Army Active Duty to Army Reserve (on Active Duty). At that point, everyone is on the same footing. The reserves are aligned with "Regions" which in turn aligned with global contingency planning. This further lines up with the National Guard.

As specific areas of the world become higher priority or lower priority, we dedicate resources appropriately. That includes finances and PEOPLE. If someone wants to cross regional boundaries they need to make sure there is a billet available for them to move into on the other side.

The fear of this model is the "good old boys" network within each region, however you process all assignments at national level, but tag people below with regional codes. That should correct any issues.

This isn't to say people won't move from duty station to duty station. They will. Just like they will go on overseas tours. But they will go from duty stations within their same regions, and their overseas tours will be directly related to the mission of said region.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Jun 24 at 2015 12:16 PM

2015-06-24T12:16:24-04:00

While it would take a few years to get my plan out i think it would help with manning for aircraft maintenance and improve overall maintenance on the aircraft. Now my plan would only work for the Air Force and the Navy as the Army and Marines i believe use there maintainers are gunners also. My plan consists of one simple thing after graduating from basic training everyone who is going to be aircraft maintenance would be sent to a school for the next two years were they would take the full aircraft and power plant (A&P) licensing course so they would be a fully qualified FAA aircraft mechanic. With this you could probably cut manning by 20% because every maintainer could do every job and you wouldn't have personnel just sitting around in their shop because of no work. This would also cut costs in tools since you wouldn't have to have five or more fully stocked tool rooms you could just have one main tool room with a smaller just off the flightline tool room for normal daily items. The tool situation would be a little different for the Navy but as I was Air Force I am unfamiliar with their procedures. This would also help relive the experience problem with qualified aircraft experienced personnel since every airman or seaman would fully qualified except for maybe a two week FTD for specifics special to said aircraft they are assigned to work on.

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-06-24T12:43:40-04:00

A lot of guys on Reddit said the air force could really use a return to warrant officers. A lot of our enlisted just want to stay technical experts which you don't realistically get to be when you get to MSgt and up. WOs could ensure we get personnel who are passionate about their career fields.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 9:06 PM

2015-06-24T21:06:09-04:00

The Air Force has a big problem, and it's the reason I left Active Duty. The Air Force excels at training specialists. You can see it in all sorts of career fields. For example, I am a Software Engineer. While there are people in other services that can program, it's not their job specialty. What the Air Force fails at is paying those specialists. Many jobs, like mine, are filled with technical experts who are enlisted. In another service, such a technical position would fall on a Warrant Officer, but the Air Force eliminated those positions. If any Air Force senior leader wonders why they have a difficult time keeping their top talent, this is probably the biggest reason.