FY13 force structure changes to cost DM 9 military and 13 civilian positions

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Sarah Ruckriegle
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz --  In response to DoD guidance and the president's 2013 fiscal year budget, Air Force officials announced force structure and manpower changes on 6 March. The new force structure will cost Davis-Monthan a net of nine military positions, 13 civilian positions and two aircraft. These net numbers include civilian reductions that had been previously announced.

Air Force wide the manpower cuts net a total reduction of 9,900 billets between Active Duty, Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. The budget cuts amount to $54 billion over the next five years with $8.7 billion in the fiscal year 2013, affecting all 54 states and territories.

"Like many American companies, the Air Force is facing tough budgetary constraints during these difficult economic times." said Col. John Cherrey, 355th Fighter Wing commander. "We have a responsibility to maintain a capable and flexible force within the current fiscally constrained environment. Toward that end we anticipated some of these changes and prepared for them. While the Desert Lightning Team is fortunate to be allocated only a few of the cutbacks this time around, it's important that we educate affected Airmen and civilians about the programs designed to assist them in their transition."

The exact positions to be reduced at Davis-Monthan are unknown at this time.

"The recently announced force structure changes shouldn't significantly affect the operations at Davis-Monthan" said Capt. Richard Lewis, the 355th Force Support Squadron's Manpower Personnel Flight commander. "This is due to foresight from base leadership, making some hard decisions in the past several months. Also the Air Force uses a variety of tools annually to manage the size of the force, many which have been in place for numerous years."
Separations in the Air Force are anticipated to be both voluntary and involuntary. The military has a variety of force management tools including RIFs, Force Shaping, and selective early retirement. While voluntary and involuntary methods were successful in reducing the Active Duty end strength in FY 12 the Air Force aims to avoid a RIF in FY13.

This mode of force restructuring is designed to intelligently reduce the size and cost of the Air Force while maintaining a ready, well-trained and well-equipped force.

"We made a deliberate decision to avoid a 'hollow force' by prioritizing readiness over force structure," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. "A smaller, ready force is preferable to a larger force that is ill-prepared because it lacks adequate resources."

For more information on the FY13 Budget and its effect on the Air Force, please visit http://www.af.mil/fiscalyear2013budget.asp or for those in voluntary separation or transition to careers outside the Air Force contact the Base Career Assistant Advisor at 228-7829.