Military

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Air Force officials announced today changes in the service's force structure affecting the operating locations of people, aircraft and organizations across the United States. These changes result from mission changes, adjustments for efficiency, congressional directives and implementation of the expeditionary aerospace force concept.

Included in this announcement are changes to manpower authorizations required to implement the EAF concept, anticipated to become operational by Jan. 1. EAF is a fundamental and evolutionary change for the Air Force. It is a shift to an expeditionary mindset and a vision for how the service will organize, train, equip and sustain aerospace forces to meet the requirements of the national military strategy and the challenges of a changing global security environment.

"Our plan is to link geographically separated Air Force operational wings, groups, and squadrons-Active, Reserve, and Guard-into 10 AEFs, each with a cross section of Air Force weapons systems to include fighters, bombers, support aircraft and tactical airlift, with integrated command and control, trained as a unit to respond rapidly and decisively to potential crises anywhere in the world," said F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary of the Air Force.

The additional manpower authorizations associated with the EAF will help relieve tempo concerns associated with deployment commitments by providing additional authorizations to the units that will bear the brunt of the Air Force's deployment taskings.

"The kind of contingencies we've been supporting are not going to go away. We have a world-class Air Force, and this is a natural evolution in the way we organize, train, and employ aerospace forces," said Gen. Michael E. Ryan, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff. We need to transition to the EAF so we can better meet the mission and take care of our airmen in the future.

**Alaska is affected as follows:

Eielson Air Force Base -- A change in security force requirements will result in a reduction of six military authorizations. The 354th Fighter Wing will receive 58 military positions as part of the implementation of the EAF concept. Regionalization of base supply functions at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, will result in a decrease of 43 military authorizations at Eielson. The net impact of these actions is an increase of nine military positions.

Elmendorf Air Force Base -- The 54th Fighter Squadron will gain six F-15C/D aircraft with an increase of 104 military authorizations. A change in aerial port, security force, and intelligence requirements will result in a reduction of 45 military authorizations. The 3rd Wing will receive 122 military positions as part of the implementation of the EAF concept and is designated an aerospace expeditionary force lead wing. The wing will lose 50 military and one civilian authorization because of regionalization of base supply at Hickam. Altogether, these actions result in an increase of 131 military and a decrease of one civilian authorization.

A complete list of nation-wide force structure changes can be found on Air Force Link (http://www.af.mil).