The Air Force has been working toward a new people services arrangement that would merge mission support and services squadrons, enveloping all quality of life and people-type services into a new Force Support Squadron. Officials expect the two-year transition process to produce an FSS comprising five flights: force development, manpower and personnel, airmen and family services, sustainment services, and community services. (Sustainment comprises food, fitness, and lodging services.) The Air Force has been testing this arrangement at various bases over the past year and found initial “challenges” but already also sees “benefits,” said Maj. Sarah Schultz, 319th FSS commander at Grand Forks AFB, N.D., one of the test sites. For most airmen, the service expects the change to be transparent. (AFPC report by Richard Salomon)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.