TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In keeping with the Air Force’s goal of increased interoperability with its joint partners, Air Force Sustainment Center has made effective its A-Staff structure, Sept. 3, marking the largest organizational restructure of the center since its inception 12 years ago. As part of the new Air Force Force Generation (AFFORGEN) deployment construct, AFSC is shifting away from a predominantly two-letter directorate structure in favor of the A-coded structure seen throughout the Air Force.
“Our Headquarters AFSC staff will move away from using a nomenclature that is unique from anything else used outside of AFMC,” said AFSC Director of Personnel Dana M. Crowe. “This new system will be in keeping similar structures within the department such as the Navy’s N-staff or the Army’s G-Staff.”
The A-Staff structure is used in place of the legacy Air Force staff designations, such as directorates and divisions, to more easily identify the Air Force component staff equivalents. The structure includes a designator, the letter A, followed by a number.
This restructuring allows AFSC to align with the Air Force’s functional areas, which will enable improved communication and decision-making. It allows for the center to focus on its primary mission and provide enhanced support to both its internal and external customers.
One of the key components of the A-Staff reorganization for AFSC is the realigning of offices from the Logistics Directorate, or LG, and placing them into several smaller organizations within A-staff designators. Currently, LG is one of the largest directorates in the center, with offices operating in support of several different programs. However, following the A-Staff reorganization, this will no longer be the case. Offices operating directly in support of Logistics, Operations, and Civil engineering will fall under the new A3/4 Directorate, while Cyberspace and Information Technology will fall under the new A6 Directorate, and Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments will fall under the A5/8/9 Directorate.
The Personnel Directorate will become A1 and Intel will become A2.
Not all organizations will have an A- designator. The offices of the Staff Directorate (DS), Historian (HO), Inspector General (IG), Information Protection (IP), Judge Advocate (JA), Public Affairs (PA), Small Business (SB), and Safety (SE) will keep their two-letter designators and be “Special Staff.” The following directorates will continue using their current two-letter designator: Contracting (PK), Financial Management (FM), Engineering (EN), and Software (SW).
Crowe also pointed out that even though a major restructure is taking place, it will not have a dramatic impact on ground-floor operations, nor will it equate to any change in personnel.
“Some employees may see a change in their chain of command, your employment at AFSC is not in jeopardy,” she said. “Those who are affected will simply be realigned to a directorate that is linked to the duties performed in your current position.”
More information on the A-Staff reorganization can be found on the AFSC website at www.afsc.af.mil/a-staff.