The White Falcon - 19.03.1993, Blaðsíða 3

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Armed Forces News Briefs
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lassification Restructure
ashington, D. C. (AFNS) — The Air Force has approved major
changes to the Air Force Classification System. The changes repre-
sent the first major modernization of a classification system that is
more than 40 years old. Under the new system there will be fewer Air
Force specialty codes. The revised AFSC’s will be logically grouped
under new alphanumeric designations and the career groupings will
better align with the restructured Air Force.
Each AFSC will represent a broader range of skills and knowledge,
which means more generalists and less specialists. People will
acquire broader expertise under the new system and thus will have
more responsibility in their jobs. This in turn will give supervisors
more flexibility when assigning work and responsibilities. AFSC’s
are scheduled to be redesignated about October 1993.
BDU rank insignia changes
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas (AFNS) — The return of sleeve
chevrons and collar insignia to battle dress uniforms has been
approved by the Air Force Chief of Staff.
Results from a computer-assisted telephone interview conducted
recently and feedback from the field showed a strong positive re-
sponse for putting the rank back on the BDUs and field jacket. The
original plan of changing to the name patch was to reduce the cost to
maintain BDUs. The aim is still to keep costs to a minimum. Units
will continue to use operations and maintenance funds to cover name
atch, chevron and sew-on costs for enlisted people. The mandatory
te for adding the rank insignia is Oct. 1, 1995.
‘Woodpeckers’ fly north for deployment
By J02 Colleen “Ghostwriter” Casper
The few remaining boxes were taped closed and loaded onto the P-
3C Orions which departed for Jacksonville, Fla., last week. The
remaining ‘Foxes’ of Patrol Squadron (VP) FIVE departed from
Keflavfk as the ‘Woodpeckers’ of VP FORTY-NINE completed their
flights north for the summer.
The ‘Foxes’s leader, CDR Lawrence S. Cotton, and his squadron of
63 officers and 270 enlisted personnel were responsible for conduct-
ing around-the-clock anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance,
and search and rescue operations in the North Atlantic Ocean for six
months.
Operationally challenging was how the commanding officer de-
scribed their tour during the Keflavfk deployment. “We started off in
September with some nice weather and then experienced what was an
unusually harsh winter. We met the challenges of flying in the winter
time successfully, though.”
“We had the opportunity to work with our NATO allies almost
every mission and performed more coastal warfare exercises than we
have in the past,” Cotton stated.
CDR James E. Droddy, Commanding Officer, VP 49 stated, “This
is my second time in Iceland since 1977, when I came here for my first
patrol squadron deployment. I am eagerly looking forward to our de-
ployment here.”
Be aware of dependent care responsibilities
By MSgt. Patsy Thorn
Military Personnel Flight
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The successful accomplishment of the Air
Force mission is predicated on the availabil-
ity of trained and motivated people. To
achieve the force characteristics of respon-
siveness and flexibility, the Air Force must
have people in the right place at the right
time, unencumbered and ready to perform
their jobs. This is why the Air Force requires
all single member sponsors and military
couples with dependents (unmarried chil-
dren under age 19) to complete the Air Force
Family Care Plan (AF Form 357).
Dependent care plans must cover all rea-
sonably practical situations, both short and
long term, and must be sufficiently detailed
and systematic to provide for a smooth, rapid
transfer of responsibilities to another indi-
vidual during the absence of the military
sponsor. The individual designated to as-
sume responsibility may not be another mili-
member (regular or reserve) because that
iber must also remain worldwide avail-
ile. Designees should be at least 21 years of
age and capable of self-care and care of
children or other dependent family members.
If the designee is not in the local area, another
non-military person must be designated to
assume temporary custody until such time as
the principal designee arrives to assume
custody of the dependents or until depend-
ents are transported to the principal designee.
Single member sponsors and military
couples accompanied by dependents in Ice-
land are subject to Non-combatant Evacu-
ation Operation (NEO) plans and are re-
quired to make detailed arrangements for the
evacuation of their dependents in the event
the NEO plan is put into effect. In this case
military members would be essential re-
sources and would not be available to escort
dependents to the evacuation area. Compre-
hensive planning is the key to meeting all
possible short and long range needs of the
dislocated dependents.
Step parents who have not adopted chil-
dren residing in their household have no legal
obligation to provide care for these depend-
ents. However, there may be times when the
presence of these dependents, together with
the absence of the spouse, may preclude the
step parent from performing the full range of
their military duties unless the dependent
care arrangements, specified on AF Form
357 of the natural or adoptive parent, are
implemented.
Commanders or first sergeants are required
to give annual briefings to all military mem-
bers, in their organization, on the contents of
AFR 35-59 — “Dependent Care Responsi-
bilities. ” Single sponsors and military couples
are also briefed on their responsibilities prior
to approval of reenlistment/extension of reen-
listment, PCS notification, upon confirma-
tion of pregnancy, upon placement of a child
in the home and as determined by the com-
mander.
Air Force Form 357 will be completed by
all single member sponsors and military
couples with dependents in the same over-
seas area, certifying their worldwide availa-
bility. The information given on this form
should allow members to meet their military
duties and best serve the needs of their de-
pendents.
If you have any questions concerning
dependent care, contact your commander first
sergeant or the Military Personnel Flight at
ext. 2646. (Note: Navy personnel must fill
out an equivalent form, DD Form 1740,which
is available at the Personnel Support Detach-
ment. Their number is ext. 2116.)
March 19,1993
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