Deployment volunteers needed

  • Published
  • By Capt. Bob Everdeen
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --  The operations tempo for Air Force employees, both civilian and military, is still high, but volunteers for extended deployments have dropped by more than 20 percent in the past two years.

According to an internal Air Force Materiel Command memo released April 21 by Gen. Donald Hoffman, AFMC commander, more volunteers are needed to maintain a steady-state deployment cycle.

"These declining numbers result in the need to fill deployments with non-volunteers and, in turn, negatively impact the mission and families through compressed deployment preparation time and unplanned retirements and separations," the general said.

As the Air Force continues to support joint operations around the globe in defense of our national interests, AFMC personnel have done "an excellent job" providing volunteers to fill 365-day extended deployments.

"We need to ensure our best and brightest support the fight, and we need to actively engage with our Airmen to encourage them to take on these mission-critical assignments," General Hoffman said. "Our civilian team plays a vital role here, too."

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz released a memo March 8 outlining opportunities for DOD civilians to serve in global expeditionary positions through a program called the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce, or CEW. Initial guidance on CEW will be released in the near future.

"While every civilian will not deploy, it is our goal to create opportunities for those who seek this chance to expand their horizons and service to the Air Force," the memo stated. Officials in the office of the secretary of defense have "directed commanders at all levels to support those civilian employees wishing to volunteer. We share that expectation."

In 2007, more than 1,100 DOD civilians volunteered to fill 129 Provincial Reconstruction Team positions in Iraq. With that overwhelming show of support, OSD officials sought more opportunities for civilians to fill and the combatant commands identified more than 150 unfilled requirements for 2009.

"The bottom line is that we need to redouble our efforts to get the word out on extended deployment opportunities, and then support our volunteers whenever possible," General Hoffman said. "We are an expeditionary Air Force and deployments not only support the joint fight, they also increase individual expertise and credibility for future service within our Air Force."

Details about extended deployments are available for military people through their respective Functional Area Managers and deployment cells. Civilians can visit http://www.cpms.osd.mil/expeditionary for more information about CEW.

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