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Deployable civilians provide continuity,
expertise
By Capt. Amie Brockway
Air Combat Command Public Affairs
10/28/2003 – LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) –
When their units are called to deploy, they line up for their smallpox and
anthrax shots, they pack camouflage uniforms and dog tags, they get weapons
training and brush up on their self-aid and buddy-care skills. But these
warriors are not airmen – at least not in the traditional sense.
They are Air Force Engineering and Technical Services civilians, known as
AFETS, and they work shoulder to shoulder with the active-duty force,
providing continuity and years of expertise to aircraft maintenance and
communication units Air Force wide.
Though they’re non-combatants, AFETS deploy around the world with their units
in support of the Air and Space Expeditionary Force. Being willing to deploy
is part of their job description and a condition of their employment.
Of the 540 AFETS throughout the Air Force, 325 are assigned to Air Combat
Command. More than 90 percent have served as members of the military before
transitioning to a similar field as an AFETS civilian, bringing with them an
average of 15 years of technical expertise, said Dr. Frank Malone, chief of
the Combat Air Forces Engineering and Technical Services division.
“We don’t hire people right out of high school or college. We want people who
bring technical expertise to the table,” Dr. Malone said. “When you put three
or four AFETS together, you probably have about 50 or 60 years worth of
experience. They are the go-to guys when you have the most critical technical
problems.”
The AFETS program began in 1966, but until operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm in 1990 and 1991, limited guidance and logistical constraints made
deploying AFETS difficult, he said.
Deploying AFETS became easier when civilians began to be viewed as an integral
part of the total force concept, said Bob Harmon, acting chief of the CAF ETS
communications team.
“Becoming a part of the deployment footprint allowed the military to not only
utilize AFETS more easily, but we also began to train for the deployment
phase, as well for the technical requirements,” Mr. Harmon said. “Now we have
better guidance in place. AFETS are part of any Phase I inspection. So now
when we deploy our civilians, we have line numbers associated with them, just
like the active-duty side.”
Many prior-service AFETS see few differences between their former lives as
military members and their current lives as AFETS. They still enjoy the
training and camaraderie of the military but have exchanged titles like
‘airman’ and ‘sergeant’ for ‘Mr.’ and ‘Ms.’
“When I deployed to the Middle East after Desert Storm, I was part of an air
control squadron. It was almost like being back in the military,” said Rich
Miller, an ACC command system integrator who spent 12 years in the Air Force.
“I found a lot of acceptance in my unit from my active-duty counterparts
because they felt I was a very important part of the team effort.”
As an AFETS technician, Mr. Miller said much of the acceptance was fostered
before the unit deployed, while he was training military technicians for
worldwide contingencies.
“You stand in line with them at the immunization line, put your gas mask on
during exercises, and deploy to the field when the unit is practicing local
communication exercises. When you are tasked to deploy, you process the
readiness line, get on an airplane, and land in a foreign country ready to
accomplish the mission,” he said.
But AFETS in the field today do more than that, he said.
“They not only train and deploy with their home units, but they are constantly
(on temporary duty) throughout the command, assisting other ACC units with
training and technical support. They are talented and dedicated professionals,
and I am proud to serve with them,” he said.
In the past decade, the number of AFETS’ deployments has increased
significantly. AFETS have filled 150 deployment requirements since 9/11, Dr.
Malone said.
“As the blue-suit environment geared up, we got busier. We mirror the
(operations tempo) of the active-duty force,” he said. “The more the Air Force
draws down, the more AFETS people are called upon. We used to provide the
technical assistance by phone. Now they want us on site at the deployed
location,” Dr. Malone said.
The program has gained greater acceptance by commanders in the past 12 years
because AFETS throughout the Air Force have established credibility through
their expertise and have shown their value at both their home units and their
deployed locations, he said.
“AFETS are a force multiplier,” said Mr. Harmon. “Units know when they deploy
that there is at least one person going with them who knows it all. AFETS
provide the continuity and a broad-based aircraft or communications systems
knowledge. The active-duty force does their job very well, but the AFETS help
bring it all together.”
Like the active-duty force, AFETS leave behind families during their
deployments. As part of the Air Force family, AFETS families have access to
family-support programs and services at their bases, like families of
active-duty airmen. AFETS spouses also look after each other through a
spouses’ network, Dr. Malone said.
In addition to the support they receive from their home stations, AFETS also
receive support from ACC senior leaders, who ensure AFETS are utilized
effectively during deployments and managed as low-density, high-demand command
assets.
“Taking care of our ACC people, including active-duty airmen, Reservists,
Guardsmen and civilians, is the command’s top priority,” said Gen. Hal M.
Hornburg, ACC commander. “We continuously examine the number of people needed
to meet the theater commander’s needs so we allow people time to rest,
reconstitute and get ready to deploy again during their next AEF window. Our
AFETS are an invaluable resource to the command and the Air Force.”
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