An Air Force Staff Sergeant, Military Training Instructor, with Flight 310, 324 Training Squadron, marches his flight down Truemper St. at Lackland after the new basic trainees got their issued uniforms and Air Force gear. (Photo by Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo ) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffThe Air Force and Space Force are meeting recruiting and retention goals for the time being, but department leaders are taking steps to ensure that the trend continues.
Headed by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin, the department’s Barriers to Service Cross-Functional Team wants to quickly come up with ideas for attracting and implementing candidates.
“America’s Air Force and Space Force rely on access to our nation’s extensive, geographically and demographically diverse talent,” said Alex Wagner, the department’s assistant secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “To remain competitive, both with the private sector and our fellow military services, we are re-examining and updating our approach to talent sourcing and management – and that requires constant review and re-evaluation of our accession policies and ensuring that any changes are consistent with those high military standards required for mission accomplishment.”
Maj. Gen. Ed Thomas, commander of the Air Force Recruiting Service, said he believes some necessary changes have been made in order for the two services could continue to attract the number of people they need. The trend will continue, he added.
“Record-low unemployment rates and steadily declining familiarity with the U.S. military today leaves us uncertain whether we can achieve our goals this year,” Thomas said, adding, “We are starting to see some positive results of our training program, policy changes and our enhanced marketing efforts. But military recruiting will remain a long-term challenge.”
One such change entails a loosening of some of the regulations related to tattoos. While more are being allowed, such body art still cannot convey obscene, extremist, supremacist or discriminatory messages.
The department also wants to:
• Accelerate naturalization during basic military training.
• Reinstate the Enlisted College Loan Repayment Program for airmen.
• Add more funds to the Air Force’s Initial Enlistment Bonuses.
• Align body-fat composition standards with that expressed in guidance from the office of the Secretary of Defense.
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