Communications Airmen meet to discuss career field's transformation

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Senior enlisted communicators from around the Air Force held a conference at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., May 19 through 21 to discuss details for the upcoming communications Air Force specialty code conversions.

During this transformation, the largest in the history of Air Force communications, more than 27,000 enlisted Airmen will transition from 16 communications AFSCs (2EXXX, 3A0XX, 3CXXX) to 11 new cyberspace support specialties (3DXXX). This move is designed to help the Air Force face the challenges of working in and protecting a cyber environment. 

"We need to posture our workforce to meet the difficult challenges we will face in cyberspace," said Brig. Gen. Ronnie Hawkins, director of infrastructure delivery. "No matter what we designate the AFSC or shred outs, our core enlisted competencies have been well defined."

The transformation began last year, when Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley put out the Roadmap for Developing Cyberspace Professionals in April of 2008. This roadmap stated all civilian, enlisted and officer communicators would switch from their current AFSCs to cyberspace specialties by October of 2009. The AFSCs were originally approved to become 1BXXX for enlisted and equivalent civilian AFSCs, but a new Department of Defense definition of cyberspace operations prompted a review of what cyberspace operator competencies should include. The result was the creation of the new 3DXXX AFSCs. 

During the conference, several career field managers stated the importance of ensuring a smooth transition and preparing communications Airmen to meet the demands of sister services and combatant commands. 

"We must socialize each step of the transformation process with each of our Airmen and the other functional communities," said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Call, the 3A career field manager. "It's critical that we meet each step of our timeline and ensure our Airmen are postured in unit type codes correctly, manpower documents are updated and personnel conversion actions occur prior to Oct. 31." 

The senior leaders also pointed to themselves as key to the transition's success.

"We need your leadership more than ever," said Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Nelson, the 2E career field manager. "We must be positive change agents in this entire transformation effort. It's important that we start conducting cross-utilization training now to bridge the gaps between today's communications and information AFSCs and tomorrow's cyberspace support AFSCs." 

Though the transformation process is not easy, the communications community is still excited to meet the challenges its new cyberspace arena will provide. 

"I'm extremely pleased with the direction we are heading on the enlisted side of communications and information and the development of our cyberspace workforce," said Maj. Gen. John W. Maluda, the director of cyberspace transformation and strategy. "As we move down the path of a 3D AFSC, I am confident we made the right choice and our Air Force will be stronger than ever and ready to meet our cyberspace mission."