News>'Continuum of Service' video promotes total force options
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The Continuum of Service video explains this program designed to enable the accession, retention and transitition of members of the Total Force components through integrated Air Force personnel management policies. (U.S. Air Force graphic)
5/6/2009 - WASHINGTON, (AFPN) -- In an effort to retain highly skilled Airmen for a lifetime of service, Air Force leaders recently unveiled a Continuum of Service video that helps to promote seamless changes in duty status in the total force structure.
The video, produced by a team from the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Manpower and Reserve Affairs and coordinated with Department of Defense officials, provides Airmen an understanding of their service options and solicits feedback from its viewers.
"Development and caring for our Airmen is one of the Air Force's top priorities," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. "This development includes educating Airmen about the role of the total force, active duty, Guard, Reserve and civil service."
Continuum of Service is a transformational initiative designed to enable the accession, retention and transition of Airmen between active duty, Guard, Reserve and civil service components using integrated personnel management policies and processes.
"Across the Department of Defense we are changing how the total force personnel are managed, compensated, assigned and deployed," said General Schwartz.
The general explained that the Continuum of Service initiative helps eliminate impediments to Airmen's service by identifying and updating legacy policies, leveraging technology and financial resources, developing legislation and removing cultural bias.
"We are dedicated to identifying barriers and minimizing or eliminating them when possible," said Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, chief of the Air Force Reserve.
Senior Air Force leaders emphasized retention of top talent depends on their ability to provide viable service options throughout an Airman's career. The Continuum of Service philosophy means giving Airmen over the entire length and all components of their service a management environment with seamless movement between duty statuses required to support total force operations.
"This is one program we need to support and get right," Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said in the video. "I've seen and helped military members who are struggling because of bureaucratic barriers and antiquated systemic problems. It's time to set the system straight and get this total force initiative on track."
To find out more about Continuum of Service, view the video on the AF.mil media player.
"We encourage all Airmen become a part of the improvement process by submitting their ideas and identifying obstacles by way of the contact information provided at the end of the video," General McKinley said.
