WOFFs getting just rewards

Volume 48, No. 20, November 2, 2006

BY EXAMPLE: The Senior Airmen Recognition and Commissioning Scheme was developed to reward SNCOs who have displayed exceptional leadership and mentoring abilities throughout their career.

By FLTLT Jade Hartland

YOU may recall a CAF Update in March this year announcing a personnel management initiative to streamline the commissioning of selected SNCOs.

The new process is the Senior Airmen Recognition and Commissioning Scheme (SARCS), one of many initiatives demonstrating Air Force’s commitment to provide more flexibility in employment via the Air Force Personnel Strategy.

SARCS is designed as a recognition scheme, similar to honours and awards, acknowledging Air Force’s long-term relationship with our senior airmen/airwomen.

The aim of the program is to reward exceptional SNCOs by offering them a commission. Although the candidates are not required to undergo the usual commissioning selection processes, they are rigorously assessed utilising their extensive performance history records.

SARCS does not replace the traditional commissioning mechanisms; these will continue to provide members with diverse career options.

The Senior Leadership Team was asked to identify outstanding WOFFs under their command, or in their organisation, as the first candidates for the inaugural SARCS program. The program acknowledges those WOFFs who, while having maximised the experience and knowledge from their airman careers, still have more to give the organisation, by offering them a new career.

This year, Air Force was looking for about 15 WOFFs suitable for commissioning into the administration, logistics and engineering specialisations. The response to the inaugural program was extremely positive, with DP-AF offering 10 appointments.

In future years, Air Force plans to widen the scope and number of offers to include FSGTs as well as other employment groups.

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