Air Force working on flexibility, says manpower official Published July 30, 2007 By Corey Dahl 21st Space Wing Public Affairs PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- In an effort to keep Airmen happier and in the service longer, the Air Force will try to become more flexible in the years ahead, said Craig Duehring, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserves. Visiting Peterson July 26, Mr. Duehring detailed future plans for Air Force personnel at four town hall meetings with Airmen and civilians from the 302nd Airlift Wing and the 21st Space Wing. Mr. Duehring told attendees the Air Force would like to slow the rapid turnover it has experienced in the past, saving both money and the expertise that comes from years of continuous service. After a short introductory speech, Mr. Duehring spent the rest of the time answering questions posed by members of the audience. "I value the opportunity," he explained, "to receive first hand feed back from the great men and women of the Air Force who are deeply involved in fighting the Global War on Terrorism." The topics discussed included pending changes in the National Defense Authorization Act, reduction in force (RIF) policies, medical evaluation procedures and a perceived loss of a sense of camaraderie. Deployment issues were a common topic of discussion at each of the meetings. In response to one question, Mr. Duehring said the Air Force is also working on several changes that would give Airmen more say in the amount of time and capacity they serve. Work is being done to lift barriers that keep people from moving around from Reserve, Guard and active duty service, and the mandatory retirement age for certain Guard and Reserve senior officers was recently lifted. Eventually, the Air Force could hypothetically modify the traditional type of Reserve service, Mr. Duehring said, and switch to having part-time and full-time Air Force positions, but that likely won't happen any time soon. Mr. Duehring stressed that the Air Force is open to suggestions, though, and said he wants to hear about the problems and concerns Airmen have. The town hall meetings at Peterson were just a few of many Mr. Duehring and Ron Winter, deputy assistant secretary for Force Management Integration, are holding at bases throughout the United States in the coming months. Both men are political appointees, so their time in office is limited to the current administration, they said, but both promised to use the time they do have to work on bettering the Air Force for everyone. "We can't promise you that we're going to go back and solve all the problems," Mr. Winter said. "But we recognize the future and we know that we need to do what must be done in order to preserve the future."