In a move to better manage the sustainment of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, Air Force Global Strike Command has taken over responsibility for buying missile systems parts, relieving the missile wing commanders of that budgetary burden. Effective Oct. 1, AFGSC is responsible for the day-to-day funding of the ICBM parts. “What happened before was that wings had to choose between whether or not to buy a missile part or buy something to support their people. That is a choice a wing commander shouldn’t have to make,” Daryle Fry, ICBM program analyst, said in an AFGSC release. With the change, missile technicians in the wings can order a needed part and the bill will be sent to AFGSC. “Wing commanders can focus more on their people and support structure and 20th Air Force won’t have to worry about advocating to command to find funding for parts,” Fry said. The new arrangement is expected to last a year before parts funding moves up to Headquarters Air Force, where sustainment of other weapon systems is funded.
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said the service must improve its readiness in his first public remarks as Air Force Chief of Staff, made during a ceremony marking his ascension to the service’s top job Nov. 18.
