AFPC Spread the Word team visits Altus Published April 6, 2009 By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- An Air Force Personnel Center Spread the Word team from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, shed some light on Air Force-wide hot topics for Altus AFB personnel March 31 at the base theater. The briefings covered topics from a list of changes that will affect Airmen and civilians in the near future ranging from air expeditionary force cycles change to bands to newly improved physical training gear. "We're trying to let everyone in the Air Force know what's going on with some our programs within AFPC," said Col. Leslie Formolo, chief of Airman Assignments at APFC. The colonel said Spread the Word teams are travelling to every base in the Air Force to relay vital information to ensure everyone is on the same page. "We care about (the Airmen) because they are our number one warfighting asset," she said. AEF operations In 2008, the Air Force deployed 106,559 Airmen, which includes guard, active duty, reserves and civilians. "(The deployments) are not just to Iraq and Afghanistan, and (Central Command), but to around the world," said Lt. Col. Corwin Pauley, AFPC/DPW. In fact, we are (Airmen) on an AEF deployment right now supporting the flood relief effort in the north." Colonel Pauley said the increase in deployments is causing the Air Force to lose its deployment predictability. "As demands (for deployments) increased while availability pools stayed the same we had to start reaching forward," he said. "If we are telling our Airmen one thing and then doing another then it is time for a change." As such, the Air Force has restructured its deployment cycles -- now known as bands -- to offer Airmen a better deployment forecast for their career fields. "We're not going to deploy more or less under tempo banding, but we're going to give you back predictability and stability to a greater extent," Colonel Pauley said. "With this, Airmen will be able to better prepare themselves and their families for deployments." Civilian personnel AFPC experienced a backlog of fill action requests during the implementation of NSPS in 2007, which in turn created a need for additional personal help operate two personnel systems, said Antonio Perez, AFPC/DPI. "Numerous manpower studies were conducted," he said. "All of them pointed to the fact that AFPC needed additional resources. The servicing ratio at AFPC is one staffer to every 247 of the service population and the industry standard is one staffer to every 100 of the service population. "We are working very hard with what we have so (Airmen) can provide combat capability," Mr. Perez said. To increase support to Airmen, AFPC added 35 staffers to the directorate. AFPC also brought in additional student hires and interns to assist with the personnel process. "We are actively engaged in (the acquisition of) additional resources," Mr. Perez said. The extra resources allowed AFPC to address one of their greatest concerns -- nearly 10,000 backlogged fill action requests. "We partnered with (Air Force Materiel Command) and through significant overtime and over-hire positions we were able to reduce the backlog by 35 percent," Mr. Perez said. AFPC is now focused on ensuring a timely completion of a fill action request. "Currently, it's taking us 140 to 145 days to complete a fill action request," he said. "Our goal in 2009 is to get that number down to 120 days and then drive that number down even further in 2010 to approximately 80 days." Uniform changes The Air Force is currently developing a new Airman Battle Uniform that is being wear tested in the theater of operations. "The new uniform is due to hit the shelves (this fall)," said Capt. Matt Dawson, Directorate of Personnel Services at AFPC. Other uniform issues discussed during the briefing were the all-purpose environmental clothing system - better known as the APECS jacket - and the green boots. The new and improved physical training gear was also discussed. "The Air Force does realize there is a supply and demand issue with the APECS jacket," said the captain. "However, their commitment is still to ensure our deployers and historical bad weather bases needs are met first and foremost followed by the rest of the Air Force. They anticipate they will meet all needs by the fall of 2010. "The Air Force is designing and field testing a stain-resistant green suede leather boot for those (Airmen) who work in the outdoors and around hazardous chemicals," he said. "(The boots) are not expected to hit the shelves until (this fall). (Until then), the chief of staff of the Air Force did grant MAJCOM commanders temporary authority to authorize the wear of black boots with your ABUs if you work in some of these outdoor environments or around hazardous chemicals to prolong the life of your green suede leather boots. Even though the ABUs and green boots are a hot topic in the Air Force, the uniform issue that received the greatest amount of criticism was the PT gear, said Captain Dawson. "The Air Force has developed a version that is lighter, more breathable and much quieter, he said. "This version is currently being wear tested and will be available in the fall of 2009." The Air Force also redesigned the PT shorts. "It is now longer in the legs and has a better pocket system," Captain Dawson said. "They will also be available around the fall of 2009." For more information, contact AFPC via e-mail at stw.workflow@randolph.af.mil or call the AFPC Service Center at 1-800-525-0102.