AF splits space, missile career field for officers

News > AF splits space, missile career field for officers

AF splits space, missile career field for officers

Posted 2/15/2013

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2/15/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force has split the space and missile career field in an effort to ensure more focused development for officers performing these critical missions in increasingly complex operational environments, Air Force officials announced today.

Under the old construct, more than 50 percent of space-coded company grade officers' development time was spent as a missileer, said Col. Joseph Prue, career field manager for space operations officers.

"Space and Missile Operations have become more and more technical in application and execution--each in their own unique ways," said Prue. "This split will enable each career field to continue cultivating technical expertise via separate, yet equally important, avenues in order to be more effective and efficient in meeting current and future AF needs."

This change will allow the Air Force to further strengthen the nuclear enterprise, said Col. Zannis Pappas, the new career field manager for "Nuclear and Missile Operations," or AFSC 13N.

"Over the past four years, we have created distinct training and development tracks for our space and missile officers to further ensure that our Airmen are prepared for the unique challenges of these missions," said Pappas. "The transformation of the career field will allow for deliberate development of specialized skills, technical depth, and experience to prepare for emerging challenges."

The change affects approximately 3,100 officers coded as either "Space Operations" or "Nuclear Missile Operations" within the former 13S career field. Those officers previously coded as "Space Operations" will remain in the 13S career field and those officers previously coded as "Nuclear Missile Operations" will have their AFSCs changed to 13N.

All new Air Force officer accessions headed for careers in the former "Space and Missile Operations" AFSC will be classified as either a "Space Operations" (AFSC 13S) officer or "Nuclear and Missile Operations" (AFSC 13N) officer.

Affected officers should contact their career field managers for more information about how the change will affect them, said Prue.

"The transformation of the career field will give space and missile officers opportunities to develop the depth and breadth they need for command, as well as the opportunity for career-long development in specific mission areas," said Prue.

(Courtesy Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs)

Comments

2/19/2013 4:16:08 PM ET
About time this divorce happened. Too bad the Air Force already gave away the 18XX AFSC designation to RPA ops. For my money I will always trust the guy or gal wearing a pocket rocket over the ones with the spings.

Old LGM-30Fer, Granby CO

2/17/2013 12:29:33 AM ET
While it may be difficult for some to believe there are those of us who chose to be Missileers are proud of what we do and believe very strongly in the mission. I am quite happy to be a 13N. I wish we had ways to ensure we didn't have non-volunteers assigned to the career field as the negativity that so many bring hurts the force as a whole. While there will always be alert pullers and perhaps a few more FGOs who are CMR there are plenty of jobs for 13Ns that do not include pulling alert. Given how proliferation seems not to be abating much and a number of countries are continuing to modernize and rely on their nuclear forces I do not see these missions evaporating any time soon.

LGM30G Fan, Wyoming

2/15/2013 5:35:02 PM ET
It's about time Developing young space CGOs is difficult when you have a constant influx of missileers that get bumped to the front of the line for training and upgrades to help their careers despite the fact that they have virtually no experience or knowledge of space operations. This is a great move for the space operations career field my condolences to the 13Ns.

Space O, Schriever AFB CO

2/15/2013 3:31:29 PM ET
This has got to suck for those officers stuck in the 13N designation. No hope to ever get out of a silo.

Ret Space Cadet, Texas

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