Air Force restructure announcement adds manpower to base

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AFB, Fla. --  Eglin will gain additional manpower according to the Air Force 2009 Force Structure Announcement throughout the end of the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) for combat air force restructuring and improve emphasis on acquisition excellence. 

The 2009 Force Structure Announcement shows the base gaining a total of 425 workforce positions, 123 military and 302 civilian. 

The National Defense Authorization Act required the Department of Defense to ensure consideration was given toward utilizing DOD civilians to perform functions currently performed by contractors but could be performed by DOD civilian employees. After review, the Air Force found that more than 1100 positions could be converted to civilian positions for various support functions. 

The base has an increase of nine civilian positions as a result of increasing support to unit commanders. Contract to civilian conversions in accordance with the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act resulted in an increase of 200 civilian positions. As a result of Combat Air Forces restructuring, the 33rd Fighter Wing has an increase of 11 civilian positions; the 53rd Wing has an increase of 4 military and an increase of 28 civilian positions; the 96th Air Base Wing has an increase of 16 military and an increase of 32 civilian positions; the 96th Security Forces Squadron has an increase of 26 military positions; and the Air Armament Center has an increase of two military and one civilian position. The base has an increase of 74 military positions as a result of Combat Air Forces restructuring. The Air Armament Center program management offices have an increase of five civilian positions as a result of improved emphasis on Acquisitions Excellence. Other miscellaneous actions resulted in an increase of one military and 16 civilian positions. 

Also, the 58th Fighter Squadron loses 18 F-15 primary aircraft authorizations as a result of past programming actions. The 85th Test and Evaluations Squadron loses two F-15 primary aircraft authorizations as a result of the FY10 Fighter Force Restructure Plan. The 33rd Fighter Wing gains six F-35 primary aircraft authorizations. 

"It's important that the AF manpower authorizations accurately reflect the military and civilian workforce - everything from deployment taskings to accession programs are based on defining the right manpower requirements or authorizations," said Ms. Lee McGehee, director of the Air Armament Center's Manpower and Personnel Directorate.