AFPC 'Spreads the Word' at Malmstrom

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon White
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  An Air Force Personnel Center "Spread the Word" briefing team shared current personnel topics with Malmstrom Airmen at the base theatre during two mass briefings Sept. 28. 

Topics ranged from volunteering for 365-day deployments, now called indeterminate TDYs, to uniform changes. Three additional briefings tailored specifically for unit deployment managers, NSPS civilian employees and officers were also held at various locations here. 

Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, AFPC commander, told AFPC public affairs that the center is evolving to provide personnel services in new formats through new programs and AFPC staff want to communicate those changes in the field. 

"Developing and caring for our Airmen is one of the Air Force's top priorities, and AFPC wants to hear from you about what works and what we can improve," General McClain said. "The changes and improvements we're making in our personnel, manpower and services management helps make it possible for us to better employ the right Airmen, to the right place, at the right time." 

Tempo bands 

During the briefing, the team provided Malmstrom Airmen with information on the new 
AEF tempo-banding system. 

The system was updated because more than half of the Air Force's career fields were deploying Airmen outside the traditional AEF cycle. Despite the increased deployment tempo, 94 percent of Malmstrom deployers were given at least 60 days notice prior to their deployments last year. 

Airmen can learn more about the AEF tempo bands at https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil/
365-Day deployments 

Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Brown, AFPC briefing team member said Airmen are encouraged to volunteer for 365-day deployments, however they need to discuss the opportunity with their supervisor before volunteering. 

Airmen interested in volunteering for 365-day deployments, now known as indeterminate TDYs, can go to https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil/365.aspx. 

Fitness testing cycle 

AFPC briefers also discussed the new fitness test requirements and fielded several questions about the new system. 

Senior Master Sgt. Carianne Melnick, AFPC briefing team member, said Airmen who check their PT test due date on the Air Force Fitness Management System on the virtual MPF will be mislead as the system could not be changed to reflect the six-month cycle for people who test before 2010. 

"If you go by the due date on the virtual MPF, your date will be wrong," she said. "If you miss a PT test you will receive a referral EPR, so make sure your test is current." 

The system will reflect correct, six-month dates for Airmen testing after the first of the year, she said. 

Civilian employees 

Jim Hale, AFPC briefing team member, discussed upcoming improvements to the civilian human resource program and said the NSPS program may face changes. 

"We had 10,000 civilian vacancies in the Air Force in 2008 and this year we have 6,500," he said. "It took an average of 160 days to hire someone, and right now we are averaging about 140 days. Our goal is to lower that number to 80." 

To accomplish that goal, AFPC intends to raise the number of human resource employees to the commercial level of one HR employee to every 100 employees. Current Air Force ratio is one HR employee for every 247 employees, he said. 

Mr. Hale said that supervisors who need to hire a civilian employee should visit the civilian personnel office. 

"Supervisors, if you have someone in mind to fill the position, tell us," Mr. Hale said. "And if it is a position a spouse or even you want to fill, stop into the Airman and Family Readiness Center. They will help you with your resume." 

People interested in government jobs can find current job listings at www.usajobs.gov/
Following the briefings, the team asked for feedback on personnel issues, then answered questions from the audience.