Civilian development “roadmap” launched

13 Jul 2009 | Paige. D. Hughes

The Air Force recently approved four initiatives that make up part of the civilian institutional development "roadmap". The initiatives are key to helping civilians excel professionally while working to achieve the Air Force mission of fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace.

Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz signed a letter to Airmen recently highlighting civilian professional development and four initiatives that are part of the civilian development continuum, or "roadmap."

"As the Air Force moves forward, we find ourselves facing a dynamic set of new challenges. To meet these challenges we increasingly rely on our Air Force civilians as part of the total force team," said Secretary Donley and General Schwartz in the letter. "As the responsibilities of our civilian workforce have increased, so has the need for civilian force development."

Air Force leaders recognize that the approximately 143,000 civilians are key to the total force and vital to performing the Air Force mission. Developing all Airmen is an Air Force priority.

The civilian aspect of development posed some challenges not faced by development of other parts of the force. Civilians enter into the Air Force at various grades and skill levels and have a wide range of experiences. To address this unique civilian dynamic, the continuum or "roadmap" was developed incorporating education, training and experience; targeted at ensuring civilians have the opportunities to develop the institutional competencies the Air Force values, at the right time in their career.

Development of the "roadmap" and the initiatives are a direct result of the Air Force's adoption of a competency based framework for human capital management.

"We are now using institutional competencies to manage the force," said Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel. "This framework gives the Air Force a common approach to developing our people across the total force."

The civilian "roadmap" outlined in the June 26 letter to all Airmen will ensure development across that continuum of roles. This includes a new-employee orientation program, opportunities for continuous self-initiated personal and leadership development, highly encouraged expectation to complete non-residence professional military education at the appropriate level, and opportunities for attendance at Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

The new-employee orientation program is a computer based training course that will be required for all newly hired civilians. The course provides civilians with basic Air Force knowledge including heritage, core competencies, custom and courtesies, and Air Force Core Values. Completion of the course entitles the member to wear the Air Force civilian pin recognizing their role as part of the Total Force.

Two other initiatives encourage civilian participation in personal and professional development and participation in non-residence professional military education.

The final piece of the civilian development program is the establishment of civilian opportunities for Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training.

The new civilian development continuum and the programs were created with the assistance of the Civilian Force development panel, and endorsed by the Force Management Development Council. The Council's priority on civilian development was to ensure civilians were at the desired proficiency level of the Air Force institutional competencies.

"Civilian leadership requirements have grown significantly over the last two decades," said General Newton. "The continuum and the new initiatives communicate expectations and the opportunities for civilian development. We will continually assess our development programs for the total force to ensure they keep pace with the changes in what we need from our people."

For information about all of the total force development visit the Air Force portal home page at https://www.my.af.mil, and select Force Development under the Life and Career tab.