Force shaping could come to a halt, CMSAF says

  • Published
  • By Corey Dahl
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  If the Air Force can find the funds, its multi-year force shaping plan could be modified to meet current mission demands and sister-service end-strength adjustments, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley.

Stopping at Peterson for an enlisted call Feb. 14, Chief McKinley said the Air Force is reviewing its growing missions and the number of people and equipment needed to carry them out. With a current force of roughly 330,000 active duty Airmen, the Air Force is scheduled to draw down to 316,600 by 2009. Those numbers may be revised, though, if the Air Force can find some extra funds, Chief McKinley said.

"With all the missions we have, we're trying to look at how much equipment and personnel we need to man them," he said. "We will continue to look at balancing the right end-strength against those needs. Right now it may seem as though 330,000 to 335,000 active-duty Airmen is ideal. "

The Air Force began reducing its personnel levels a few years ago in order to save money to modernize and upgrade its aging aircraft and satellites.
That goal remains, Chief McKinley said, as the Air Force plans to add 381 F-22s and 1,700 F-35s in the coming years and replace most of its space assets.

"Right now, we have the pilots, the aircraft and the mechanics necessary to maintain air superiority," he said. "But we can't rest on our laurels of what we can do today. We have to be talking about what we'll be able to do 20, 30 years from now. We will not be able to maintain air superiority if we do not recapitalize and modernize."

Whether the Air Force will get the extra funding it would like is still up in the air right now, Chief McKinley said, but regardless of whether the Air Force continues to draw down in size, Airmen will need to give 100 percent in order to keep up with the ongoing demands of the war on terror, growing missions and shrinking staff.

"Every single Airman is valuable," he said. "We don't have room for people who are not on board or doing the best they can. We need to make sure everyone is invested in their job."

Chief McKinley urged Airmen to focus on their education and take advantage of the Community College of the Air Force, bachelor's degree programs and non-commissioned officer academies. He also asked supervisors to do their best to welcome first-term Airmen and make them feel comfortable at their first duty stations.

"We need supervisors to be taking care of our Airmen from the first day they get on base," he said. "We can't afford to lose Airmen in their first duty assignment because they get in trouble, and their supervisor wasn't engaged."

Chief McKinley also highlighted the quality of life improvements being made for Airmen and their families. The Air Force is also working to better support wounded Airmen returning from the war on terror by hiring more mental health professionals, finding military and non-military jobs for the wounded and working on treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Better uniforms and physical training gear, with lighter, better designed material is also in the works and a high priority for Chief McKinley.

The improvements are critical, Chief McKinley said, as Airmen continue to fight the global war on terror and support homeland security - missions that will be around for many years to come.

"Our children, our grandchildren are going to be fighting this war for a long time," he said. "We need to make sure we're prepared and equipped to handle this for years to come."

 

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