New focus for supply trades

Volume 48, No. 21, November 16, 2006

FULL LOAD: CPL Andy Nicoll refuelling an F-111 during Exercise Bersama Padu in Butterworth, Malaysia.  Photo by AC Aaron Curran

A RESTRUCTURE of the clerk supply (CLKSPLY) and supplier (SPLR) musterings is under way.

Announcing the change, which was approved by the CAF Advisory Committee, AIRCDRE Ian Smith said the restructure requirement was based on changes to support needs that cannot be met by the current supply trades structure.

“As Head of the Logistics Employment Group, I commend this initiative to you and I note the importance of getting this done quickly before the introduction of C-17 and initial phases of JP 2077,” he said to the 180 attendees at the Air Force Logistics Conference.

“This restructure provides a very positive message to the supply trades workforce. Training, development and organisation of logistics staff must be adaptive and responsive to capability support demands.

“The restructure will involve the complete review of all Initial Employment Training and postgraduate training requirements.”

GOOD MOVE: A restructure of the CLKSPLY and SPLR trades will focus on movements operations and supply support, affecting members such as LAC Paul Hynes and CPL Stuart Allen, pictured above unloading stores while deployed in Scotland with 10SQN.  Photo by PLTOFF Greg Pierce

The restructure will result in two groups of specialists, with one focused on movements operations and the other on supply support. The ‘supply’ mustering will be responsible for logistics governance, squadron supply functions, purchasing and inventory management.

The duties of the ‘movements’ mustering will include the air terminal role, aircraft refuelling, vehicle management, road movements, and driver training and testing. The transition of current personnel to the new mustering structures will impact on over 1,000 members across the two supply trades.

While the restructure activities will be coordinated by Logistics Sponsorship (LOGSPON) staff within the Logistics Support Agency–Air Force, the success of the program will rely heavily on the active involvement and engagement of the broader logistics workforce. Details covering the scope and schedule will be released through a variety of channels.

Supply trades staff will shortly be asked to suggest titles for the new musterings and indicate an initial preference for future employment, to assist management and planning of restructure arrangements.

 Any questions should be referred to LOGSPON staff via email or via the forum under the public folders in Microsoft Outlook. Relevant information and updates will be posted to the LSA website: http://intranet.defence.gov.au/raafweb/sites/LSA-AF/

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