RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Air Force Personnel Center and Air Force Materiel Command are partnering to reduce the number of Air Force civilian personnel actions currently in the system. Four AFMC bases will temporarily assume responsibility for all AFMC civilian fill actions.
The large civilian centers at Hill AFB, Utah, Robins AFB, Ga., Tinker AFB, Okla., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, will assist AFPC by working all AFMC civilian actions until September 2009, when the responsibility will return to AFPC.
"We are carving out time to establish a flexible process that will allow for the ebb and flow of civilian actions in the Air Force," said Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, AFPC commander. "New initiatives of the past 12 months, such as the implementation of a new staffing tool and NSPS, have culminated in a build up of work."
AFPC now fills positions using both General Schedule and National Security Personnel System processes and rules, which has significantly increased workload and the need for advanced training. Under NSPS, the classification system, compensation structure and staffing component varies drastically from GS, impacting AFPC's ability to swiftly fill civilian vacancies.
Since the four AFMC civilian centers still process civilian actions, they are equipped and staffed to absorb the temporary workload. This initiative will benefit other major commands within the Air Force by freeing up AFPC manpower to support their hiring requirements.
Air Force wide, AFPC currently has more than 9,500 requests for personnel fill actions in process, with 500 to 700 new requests coming in weekly. AFMC employs 39 percent of the Air Force civilian population.
"This is one of many initiatives AFPC is taking to reduce the number of vacancies," said General McClain. "We fully understand the mission impact and appreciate the support, not only from AFMC but from all major commands, in working this critical issue."