308th Armament Systems Wing becomes directorate

  • Published
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 308th Armament Systems Wing was re-designated July 30 as the Air Armament Center's Armament Directorate to comply with Air Force 2008-2010 Strategic Plan and the CSAF's directive to implement guidelines for new personnel strength standards for units across the Air Force. The wing's six subordinate groups were also re-designated as divisions and the ir 24 squadrons will be re-designated as branches.

These changes follow an Air Force senior leadership decision to standardize wing, group, and squadron strengths to personnel levels above the strength of most Air Force Materiel Command acquisition units. Air Force active duty and civilian personnel strength now must be at 1,000 or more for wings, 400 or more for groups and 35 or more for squadrons.

"Joint and allied warfighters as well as our industry partners can expect the same superior level of teamwork, management and support that has been the hallmark of the 308th Armament Systems Wing" said Randy Brown, the wing's director and future leader of the Armament Directorate.

The wing's mission to 'Equip Our Warfighters with Air Dominance, Strike, and Combat Support Capabilities to Fight and Win Decisively' will not change as it assumes the new mantle of Armament Directorate. Additionally, major command architects of the plan are working toward a "manpower neutral" organizational realignment, meaning no net gain or loss of jobs is expected with the re-designation of the wing and its subordinate units. The headquarters and staffing locations of the newly re-designated organizations will also remain the same as members continue to manage the acquisition of 14 munitions and combat support programs as well as multiple projects critical to the warfighter. Although planners don't have answers to every question that civilian and military members may have about potential personal impacts, they say they will keep the information flowing as the change process plays out.

Air Force senior leaders are not just returning to the organizational designations once used before the Air Force Materiel Command adopted the wing structure. The goal underlying this organizational realignment is to establish clear lines of authority and accountability within acquisition organizations, one of the five goals of the Air Force's Acquisition Improvement Plan announced in May 2009.