General Newton: People are priority No. 1

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Dean
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  "The Air Force is a great way of life and we are going to make it even better," said Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel at the 2009 Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.

General Newton emphasized his perspective that people issues are integrated into each of the priorities Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz laid out in 2008. 

The general met with more than 150 conference attendees during a standing-room only briefing on personnel issues ranging from managing the force to celebrating the Year of the Air Force Family.

During his talk, the general noted how taking care of Airmen and their families is part of Air Force heritage, having its origins in the birth of the organization.

"I know that data point number one is Airmen and all of our people. They are the heart and soul of the organization," he said.

"I want us to be 'best in class,' the standard-bearer," General Newton said, comparing the Air Force to its sister services.

"An Airman is absolutely a weapons system," said General Newton, talking about some of his priorities: shaping, sizing and enhancing the quality of service; warrior and survivor care; the Year of the Air Force Family; diversifying the workforce for the 21st century; and changing the Air Force culture, specifically with the implementation of the new fitness Air Force Instruction in 2010.

Previous drawdowns are being reversed and the shape of the Air Force is changing as active duty end strength is matched by complimentary increases in the Reserve and the civilian workforce. The general foresees Air Force civilians becoming more involved in future deployments.

"We all have to come up together because of the total force application," General Newton said.  "Our jointness affects how and where we serve together," General Newton said.
 
Warrior and survivor care will continue to emphasize recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration. General Newton said the Air Force is committed to lifetime support of wounded warriors and their families.

"These people are overcoming obstacles I can't even contemplate," said the general. "We have a solemn obligation, a lifetime obligation to them. We will help them stay in uniform for as long as they want to serve or enable a successful transition for those who don't want to or can't."

Air Force officials currently are working with more than 500 combat wounded warriors and their families.

Taking care of Airmen and their families is one of the objectives during the Year of the Air Force Family, which kicked off in July. Along with specific program improvements in the areas of health and wellness, housing and development education, the initiative also includes Air Force Family Week November 1 to 7 and a planned Single Airmen Summit scheduled for February 2010.

General Newton cited a recent study that found quality childcare to be the number one concern of Airmen with families. 

"We are building capacity and successfully reducing wait times to address this," he said.

The general also noted planned improvements to video conferencing capability, allowing better communication during deployments, and to a video conference reading program.

With an ever-changing cultural mix in the general population, General Newton highlighted the importance of mirroring the positive outcomes of diversity in the Air Force.

"This is a strategic imperative," he said. "A lack of diversity has consequences. There is finite talent and we are competing with the other services, corporations and academia for it."

The general noted that now is the time when the general officers who will "form the bench in 2038 and 2039" are entering the force. 

"We are in a war for talent," he said, encouraging today's leaders to "get in touch with your affinity groups and sell the Air Force."

With the January 2010 implementation of the updated physical fitness AFI fast approaching, General Newton explained the intent and goals of the deliberate changes.

"This is a drive to make fitness a part of our culture, part of our way of life," General Newton said. "It isn't a 'gotcha' program, it's about creating an atmosphere where people want to improve and be more fit for the rest of their lives."

Improvements to base fitness centers are intended to make getting and staying fit more convenient and rewarding to Airmen. And once implemented, an online assessment tool will offer Airmen suggestions for improvement based on the component scores of their assessments.

"Every day is a new beginning in my job," said General Newton. "It's our people that will make us the most relevant Air Force we can be."