Leaders consider returning maintainers to flying squadrons

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force leaders are considering realigning aircraft maintenance units directly into flying squadrons.

"It's important for Air Force units to be structured by mission and not by function," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. 

"Aircraft maintenance is an important element of a flying squadron commander's mission, so crew chiefs and other aircraft maintainers should fall in that chain of command," the general said. "The partnership between crew chief and aircrew goes back to our roots and is part of our heritage. We'll figure out if this is the best thing for Airmen, but it won't happen before we've received all the feedback we need to make it work. This isn't just change for change sake; we want to make sure this is done right, not necessarily as quickly as possible.

"One of our main priorities is to properly organize, train and equip our Airmen so they can deliver decisive effects globally," General Moseley said. "We must provide squadrons with the right people with the right skill sets with the right tools. I believe moving aircraft maintenance units to the flying squadrons is best for our Air Force."

The general said he believes a unit's home station should mirror deployed flying squadrons as closely as possible. 

"We should organize at home the same way we fight," he said.

"Giving the flying squadron commander the ability to take control of all levels of the flying mission is the right thing to do," said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the Combined Forces Air Component commander. "Putting maintenance with the flying squadron as we execute our mission in combat is the way to go."

Ultimately, most of the work in the Air Force is done at the squadron level. Therefore, the goal is to provide combatant commanders with the most complete and capable fighting squadrons possible, "whether it's training, mobilizing or generating combat power," General Moseley said.

The proposal would return aircraft maintenance units to an Air Force organizational structure that was changed about five years ago when a massive realignment moved the maintainers to maintenance groups. Under the proposed plan, other maintenance units, like component repair squadrons, will remain within maintenance groups.

At a special conference for NCOs held earlier this year, General Moseley said he believes since aircraft maintainers work directly alongside aircrews to launch airpower, they should all be part of the same squadron.

"The squadron is the building block of Air Force organizational structure and we need to organize it for success," he said. "We have our wing- and our group-level organizations right, but I don't think we're there yet at the squadron level."

General Moseley recently sent out a survey to squadron, group and wing commanders about the proposed change. He said he continues to receive feedback. Because this initiative is still in the planning stages, Air Force leaders are determining if this is the best course of action for all flying squadrons.

"I'm convinced this is absolutely the right thing to do for fighters, but I'm still getting input on whether it should apply to (unmanned aerial vehicles), airlifters, tankers and special operations aircraft as well," General Moseley said. "I've spoken with several squadron commanders, and they all want this change. Now we just need to figure out if it will work for the entire Air Force."

Airmen should not be concerned that the proposed reorganization may affect promotions or career options. After five years under the current model, there is no evidence that supports promotion rates or career options are significantly different now from what they were under the previous model, General Moseley said.

He also said this is the best way to take care of Airmen, the Air Force's most precious resource.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page