AMCs Personnel Directorate reorganizes to improve warfighter support Published April 14, 2005 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Effective April 4, the Headquarters Air Mobility Command Personnel Directorate, otherwise known as AMC/A1, reorganized with an emphasis on improving support to todays warfighters.The decision to change came after the Air Force director of personnel announced a vision to develop a new major command structure, and AMC officials took the lead on transforming its Personnel Directorate into a structure derived from Air Force doctrine.The intent of the reorganization is to organize into a functional structure that uses broadly understood philosophy and language. Collaboration with personnel counterparts at Air Combat Command helped produce an organizational template applicable across major command personnel directorates.Currently, the majority of Personnel Directorates across the Air Force are organized in four divisions: Civilian Personnel, Assignments, Military Personnel Plans and Personnel Force Management. Building on the three basic pillars of Air Force doctrine, A1 has reorganized into three divisions: Capabilities, Development, and Sustainment. The most significant change will be the integration or teaming of civilian and military personnel elements into a common structure.We evaluated our current structure, reviewed our process management strategies, and developed a course of action, said Col. Michelle Johnson, AMC Director of Personnel. It became very apparent that our programs could be aligned in a doctrinal construct.Our expected outcomes include continuity and synergy from grouping active duty and civilian functions. Although many specific functions are technically independent, our aim is a more holistic personnel approach to anticipate warfighter needs and make personnel processes easier for the field one team, one fight, she said.When the A1 staff first addressed restructuring in October 2004, one of the first tasks they tackled was identifying workload requirements within the various programs.We carefully evaluated the alignment of functions under the new divisions to determine the interrelationships of the branches and to best capture the spectrum of personnel functions, said the colonel.One of the biggest changes is the blending of civilian personnel responsibilities throughout the new organization.By grouping like functions, we hope to leverage our civilian and military knowledge base, thereby creating a synergistic effect across the Total Force, from policy matters to program execution, said Norman Lorange, chief of the new Sustainment Division.One example where synergy is apparent is the collocation of Military Equal Opportunity with Equal Employment Opportunity/Discrimination Complaints under the new Human Relations and Workforce Diversity Branch. While these functions are governed by separate regulations and laws, the overall objectives of both MEO and EEO are basically the same. This new structure will include the expansion of Alternate Dispute Resolution, value of life and culture of Airmen functions, and sexual assault response issues.This collocation effort provides a one-stop office for diversity and human relations issues, said Col. Gene Smith, chief of the Personnel Force Management Division. Because this is an on-going function, it makes sense to align it under the Sustainment Division. Previously, EEO was part of the Civilian Personnel Division, while MEO was in the Personnel Force Management Division.Another synergistic effect of the reorganization is moving the Education Branch from the old Personnel Force Management Division to the new Force Development Division.According to Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Mathis, chief of AMC Enlisted Force Development, this move goes hand in hand with developing the force. Since force development is a Total Force effort, well also align the civilian education and training functions with the officer and enlisted functions, she said.As far as position changes are concerned, the chief said no positions were added. In fact, between future personnel transformation offsets and the A1 reorganization, the directorate anticipates an authorization savings of more than 20 percent over a six-year span, with resulting personnel cuts being handled through attrition.The bottom line with the reorganization of the directorate is that its in a better position to advise and develop AMCs Total Force, thus enabling global mobility for current and future requirements.The resulting structure better postures us to sustain key processes and adjust to mission additions or efficiencies from technology, said Colonel Johnson.Once AMCs Personnel Directorate completes its test of the reorganized structure, other commands will follow; Air Combat Command some time in the late summer and others shortly thereafter. Air Mobility Command News Service is a service of the Internal Division Office of Public Affairs 503 Ward Drive, Room 214 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5335 618-229-7821