Volume
48, No. 16, Sepetember 7, 2006
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THE
RIGHT FIT: As part of the Air Force’s Rebalancing
and Reshaping project, 29 personnel from RAAF Base Tindal
will relocate to Williamtown to support Hornet operations
more efficiently.
Photo by LAC David Gibbs
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MOST
of the Air Force will have seen CAF and senior Commanders discuss
the Rebalance Our Air Force project and be left with the question
of what this means for some of you.
The Rebalancing and Reshaping project is gaining momentum, with
initiatives implemented through the January 2007 posting cycle.
As part of the project, personnel management staff are redistributing
a number of positions in this posting cycle to more effectively
deliver Air Force capability over the next decade.
Director Personnel – Air Force (DP-AF) GPCAPT John Hewitson
said there would be some movement associated with the recent
standing-up of 87SQN at RAAF Base Edinburgh. However,
most of the changes are structural ones designed to help units
that are supporting prolonged operational commitments.
The initiatives are occurring across the entire organisation,
in all areas, categories and musterings.
The most significant change is the move early in 2007 of the
Air Operations Centre (AOC) from RAAF Base Glenbrook to Canberra.
The move by the AOC precedes the eventual commissioning of the
Headquarters Joint Operational Command (HQJOC) complex near
Bungendore and is part of the formation of the “transitional”
HQJOC.
A team is looking at the best way of delivering the Air Force
‘Raise, Train and Sustain’ function, with the intended
result of providing clearer lines of command and control,
removing duplication and gaining efficiencies across HQAC and
Air Force Headquarters.
Another change is the formation of Air Force Training Group,
which stood up on July 1 under the command of ACAUST to realign
the management of training with operational capability.
Air Force workforce reviews have identified a need to restructure
Combat Support Group to focus on operational support (see below).
As part of the posting plans by DP-AF, the first C-17 Globemaster
III heavy air lifter conversion courses are currently being
conducted in the USA and further staff are being selected to
undergo training throughout 2007.
This will ensure that Air Force can bring the new C-17 to full
operational capability as quickly as possible. As part of the
introduction of the C-17,
36SQN will hand over its C-130H aircraft to 37SQN later this
year and 36SQN will commence C-17 operations at RAAF Base Amberley.
The rebalance team has created an additional 70 positions at
86WG units at RAAF Base Richmond, and created 80 new positions
at 92WG units at RAAF Base Edinburgh,
to ensure that these organisations can continue to maintain
operations.
In addition, the Aerospace Operations Support Group has been
assigned a few additional positions to support current operations.
DP-AF staff are posting people to these new positions now for
January 2007.
OC 92WG GPCAPT James Brown said the new positions will enhance
Edinburgh’s capacity to sustain operations and will position
92WG for the introduction of new systems.
“From 92WG’s perspective, the 80 positions will complete
the establishment numbers we need to have in place for today
and the future,” he said.
“These new positions will provide us the numbers we need
to conduct our current operations and likely future operations,
noting the future UAV and platform acquisitions options.
“This will also help shape the future structure of 92WG.”
Another significant change will impact the Top End, following
a review of the F/A-18 intermediate level maintenance facilities
at Tindal and Williamtown.
Air Force has determined that much of this work can be completed
more efficiently for all Hornets from Williamtown. Consequently,
29 personnel will relocate from Tindal to Williamtown in the
next posting cycle.
Meanwhile, CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd has announced that the
two Air Force bands are to be combined into a single, 40-member,
permanent Air Force band supplemented by Reserve musicians as
required.
This band capacity will enable Air Force to continue to support
high priority military and civilian events, while releasing
permanent positions to assist Air Force to better support operations.
The band will continue to support high priority tasking across
Australia. Introduction of a Reserve band capability may permit
elements of the reserve band to be based at a range of locations
to enhance the flexibility of our music capability.
Info on the Rebalance Our Air Force Project is on Air Force
intranet site: http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/AFRT/
