ACC command chief discusses hot topics during all call

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  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The senior ranking enlisted Airman in Air Combat Command discussed a variety of hot topics during an all-call at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility here Jan. 28.

Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, ACC command chief, addressed multiple force management concerns, discussed some of the issues Air Force leadership is currently wrestling with and took questions from the crowd during the hour-and-a-half event.

Parsons began event by praising the 55th Wing for their sacrifices and dedication to its worldwide mission.

"Thank you for what you're doing every day," he said. "It's amazing what you do ... and most importantly for what you produce in many (areas of responsibilities) around the world. The product you produce is an amazing product and helps us fight and win wars. It helps us get our ground forces out of harm's way and back home to their loved ones."

Parsons talked about the Air Force's capabilities during the first Gulf War compared to what they are today. He stressed the fact that tough decisions have to be made now to ensure the service continues to have the capabilities it needs in the future to maintain air dominance.

"I go through all of that (history) because that's the same thing we have to do with Airman," he said. "The bottom line is that we have to be very efficient and that's what (force management) is all about."

Parsons used five flying squadrons having their people and weapon system at a 70-75 percent capability rate as an example to explain the Air Force's plan. He said what they would like to do is take down two of those squadrons so that the entire unit of three squadrons would be at a 95 percent ready and capable rate.

"Will we have less capacity?" he asked those in attendance. "Yes, but we will have capability. Today, what we have is capacity, but we don't have the capability."

He then talked about the shrinking Air Force budget, which is roughly 50 percent less than it was in 2012, and how they've had to cut back on myriad programs so they could focus solely on readiness.

"That's what our senior leaders are dealing with today," the chief said. "They're asking themselves how can they balance this budget and get the most combat capability out of the money they have."

Congress gives the Air Force money to pay the salary, medical and retirement for 328,000 people on active duty, he explained. However, there are 334,000 currently on active duty.

"The money for those excess Airmen comes straight out of our (operations and maintenance) budget," Parsons said. "In years past, we could manage that, but that's not happening today. We simply don't have the dollars."

Parsons broke down the Air Force's choices saying they could continue to take readiness money and pay for people they're not allotted for, or "we can live within the budget that we have."

In order to get within that budget, the Air Force is going to cut 25,000 Airmen. Parsons said he wanted to stress that those cuts are not coming over a period of five or six years, but they are going to be made this year.

"We don't want Airmen worrying about this year after year," he said. "We have got to reduce down our numbers so that we can have highly capable, highly ready forces."

The Air Force came up with the 25,000 cut by looking at what the force will be authorized in 2019. The shape for those cuts includes a lot of variables, but one associated with it includes a plan to cut 550 aircraft from the Air Force inventory.

Every person in the Air Force is listed on a unit manning document and coded under a certain weapon system. Every weapon system has an approved number of authorizations and so if you cut that aircraft out of the inventory, everything that is funded with that code also goes away.

"Additionally, we have identified (Air Force Specialty Codes) that are already way over-manned," Parsons said. "It's the first time in the enlisted career field that we've ever done it that way."

The chief then talked about a number of programs that have been rolled out by the Air Force to reach that new authorization number. This includes both voluntary and involuntary programs, which combined with the authorization cuts tied to aircraft, should get the service roughly 15,000 of their 25,000 cuts.

"This is where it's going to get hard," Parsons said. "It's going to get dreadfully painful."

He concluded the event by encouraging and challenging the Airmen in attendance who are concerned with these force management changes as well as other stresses in their life to take pro-active steps to help them through.

Parsons relies on the four pillars of health every day to guide him. That includes focusing on his spiritual, physical, mental and social well-being.

"Everyone has issues and if you don't know what issue you have, that's your issue," he said. "We all have issues and they're all destructive. If you don't get control of them, they will destroy you."

He reminded everyone to be a good Wingman and always be mindful that what we do affects everyone around us.

"You are the producer of hope for everyone around you," Parsons said. "Sometimes you're the producer and sometimes you're the recipient. This is about life and this is about getting real with other and being there for each other."

To watch the all call in its entirety, please visit IPTV.