Force structure announcement impacts at Arnold AFB Published Nov. 3, 2011 By Jason L. Austin Arnold AFB Public Affairs Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. -- Two force structure announcements were made Nov. 2 by the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Materiel Command. Arnold Air Force Base leadership expects minimal impacts as a result of the announcements. Air Force civilian workforce restructure/Global Base Support The first announcement, made by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs office, referenced Air Force-wide civilian workforce restructuring. This initiative will create 5,900 positions against the Air Force's top priorities and will eliminate 9,000 positions across the force. As of this announcement, Arnold Air Force Base will lose only 18 positions, which are being managed by normal attrition rates. To support this effort, the Air Force is using all personnel management options available to limit impacts on civilian employees, to include attrition, early retirement and incentive opportunities where and when needed. AEDC has not participated in the current voluntary reductions because the necessary reductions were able to be made through other personnel management actions. At this time, AEDC leadership does not foresee a need to offer voluntary measures based on the limited impact at our location for this initiative. Air Force Materiel Command Five Center Construct The second announcement is the Five Center construct announced by AFMC. Under this construct, AFMC will reduce the number of centers it operates from 12 to five to realize efficiencies by reducing overhead costs. Within this new construct, Arnold Engineering Development Center is left intact. AEDC will now fall under the Air Force Test Center and be renamed the Arnold Engineering Development Complex, which will give us more flexibility in our local operational decisions. AEDC will no longer report directly to AFMC as they currently do, but will report to the general officer in charge of the AFTC, who will be equally vested in our success and our resourcing as the other two test wings. Additionally, gaining greater efficiencies by reducing overhead costs will equate to better support to the warfighter and better use of taxpayer dollars. The AFMC restructure will take place during the coming year with implementation timelines still being developed and no completion date currently set. According to the AFMC news release, "this will cut overhead costs and redundant layers of staff and is expected to generate Air Force savings equal to $109 million annually while improving AFMC's overall management and lines of communication." Local activities Consistent with these actions at higher headquarters, the leadership team at Arnold Air Force Base has been conducting a series of bottoms-up reviews of every aspect of our operating model to find greater efficiencies. We are actively seeking innovative ideas to reduce costs while enhancing the Air Force's delivery of research, development, test and evaluation for our nation and our partners. We appreciate the local communities support to our workforce, who are members of your community, as we continue to make adjustments and do our part to meet mandated budget goals.