DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236506
TITLE=AIR FORCE REORGANIZATION(L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP OFFICIALS OF THE U-S AIR FORCE SAY THEY ARE MAKING
BIG CHANGES IN THE WAY THEY ORGANIZE THEIR PLANES AND PEOPLE.
THE OFFICIALS SAY THE THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHANGED
SINCE THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION, AND THE SERVICES MUST ADAPT.
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THE PENTAGON IS ALSO TRYING TO STEM
THE FLOOD OF PILOTS AND HIGHLY TRAINED MECHANICS LEAVING THE
MLITARY FOR BETTER-PAYING JOBS AT AIRLINES.
TEXT: DURING THE COLD WAR, THE U-S AIR FORCE FOCUSED ON
CONTAINING THE SOVIET UNION. UNITS OPERATED OUT OF FIXED BASES
IN THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC. FOR AIR FORCE
PILOTS AND MECHANICS, LIFE WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, BUT FAIRLY
PREDICTABLE.
NOW MANY OF THOSE FIXED BASES HAVE CLOSED, PARTICULARLY OUTSIDE
THE UNITED STATES. AIR FORCE UNITS ARE OFTEN ABRUPTLY ORDERED TO
DISTANT COUNTRIES. COMMANDERS COMPLAIN THAT UNITS ARBITRARILY
GROUPED TOGETHER FOR A PARTICULAR MISSION ARE NOT USED TO
WORKING TOGETHER, SO THEY SPEND VALUABLE TIME ORGANIZING THINGS
AND MAKING CLEAR WHICH UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT TASKS.
ACTING AIR FORCE SECRETARY WHITTEN PETERS SAYS THE NUMBER OF
DEPLOYMENTS IS GROWING, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE AIR FORCE
IS NOT. HE SAYS SOME UNITS, LIKE THOSE THAT PERFORM ELECTRONIC
WARFARE OR AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING TASKS, HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO SPEND A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF TIME AWAY FROM HOME
AND FAMILY.
TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, SECRETARY PETERS IS ORGANIZING MUCH OF
THE AIR FORCE INTO 10 'AIR EXPEDITIONARY FORCES'. EACH WILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND ABOUT 175 PLANES.
/// PETERS ACT ///
FIGHTERS, BOMBERS, SUPPORT AIR CRAFT, TACTICAL AIRLIFT,
WITH INTEGRATED COMMAND AND CONTROL, TRAINED AS A UNIT
TO RESPOND RAPIDLY AND DECISIVELY TO POTENTIAL CRISES
ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL MICHAEL RYAN SAYS TWO OF THESE
EXPEDITIONARY FORCES WILL BE READY TO DEPLOY ON A FEW HOURS' OR
DAYS' NOTICE. GENERAL RYAN SAYS THE FORCES WILL TAKE TURNS WITH
THIS 'FIRST-TO-FIGHT' STATUS. HE EXPECTS PILOTS AND AIRMEN WILL
HAVE TO BE READY TO DEPLOY FOR A PREDICTABLE THREE MONTHS OUT OF
EVERY 18 MONTHS. HE SAYS IMPROVED ORGANIZATION SHOULD REDUCE THE
STRAIN ON FAMILIES AND THE DRAIN ON TALENTED, EXPERIENCED, AND
EXPENSIVELY TRAINED PERSONNEL.
THE GENERAL SAYS THE 15 MONTHS WHEN PILOTS AND CREWS ARE NOT
DEPLOYED WILL BE DEVOTED TO TRAINING PEOPLE AND UPGRADING
AIRCRAFT. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/LTD/MMK
04-Aug-98 1:32 PM EDT (1732 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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