DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236506
TITLE=AIR FORCE REORGANIZATION(L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TOP OFFICIALS OF THE U-S AIR FORCE SAY THEY ARE MAKING 
BIG CHANGES IN THE WAY THEY ORGANIZE THEIR PLANES AND PEOPLE.  
THE OFFICIALS SAY THE THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES HAVE CHANGED 
SINCE THE FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION, AND THE SERVICES MUST ADAPT. 
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THE PENTAGON IS ALSO TRYING TO STEM 
THE FLOOD OF PILOTS AND HIGHLY TRAINED MECHANICS LEAVING THE 
MLITARY FOR BETTER-PAYING JOBS AT AIRLINES.

TEXT:  DURING THE COLD WAR, THE U-S AIR FORCE FOCUSED ON 
CONTAINING THE SOVIET UNION.  UNITS OPERATED OUT OF FIXED BASES 
IN THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC.  FOR AIR FORCE 
PILOTS AND MECHANICS, LIFE WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT, BUT FAIRLY 
PREDICTABLE.

NOW MANY OF THOSE FIXED BASES HAVE CLOSED, PARTICULARLY OUTSIDE 
THE UNITED STATES.  AIR FORCE UNITS ARE OFTEN ABRUPTLY ORDERED TO
DISTANT COUNTRIES.  COMMANDERS COMPLAIN THAT UNITS ARBITRARILY 
GROUPED TOGETHER FOR A PARTICULAR MISSION ARE  NOT  USED TO 
WORKING TOGETHER, SO THEY SPEND VALUABLE TIME ORGANIZING THINGS 
AND MAKING CLEAR WHICH UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT TASKS.

ACTING AIR FORCE SECRETARY WHITTEN PETERS SAYS THE NUMBER OF 
DEPLOYMENTS IS GROWING, BUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE AIR FORCE
IS  NOT.  HE SAYS SOME UNITS, LIKE THOSE THAT PERFORM ELECTRONIC 
WARFARE OR AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING TASKS, HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF 
PEOPLE WHO SPEND A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF TIME AWAY FROM HOME
AND FAMILY.  

TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, SECRETARY PETERS IS ORGANIZING MUCH OF 
THE AIR FORCE INTO 10 'AIR EXPEDITIONARY FORCES'.  EACH WILL HAVE
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND ABOUT 175 PLANES.

                       /// PETERS ACT ///

         FIGHTERS, BOMBERS, SUPPORT AIR CRAFT, TACTICAL AIRLIFT, 
         WITH INTEGRATED COMMAND AND CONTROL, TRAINED AS A UNIT 
         TO RESPOND RAPIDLY AND DECISIVELY TO POTENTIAL CRISES 
         ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

                         /// END ACT ///

AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF, GENERAL MICHAEL RYAN SAYS TWO OF THESE 
EXPEDITIONARY FORCES WILL BE READY TO DEPLOY ON A FEW HOURS' OR 
DAYS' NOTICE.  GENERAL RYAN SAYS THE FORCES WILL TAKE TURNS WITH 
THIS 'FIRST-TO-FIGHT' STATUS.  HE EXPECTS PILOTS AND AIRMEN WILL 
HAVE TO BE READY TO DEPLOY FOR A PREDICTABLE THREE MONTHS OUT OF 
EVERY 18 MONTHS.  HE SAYS IMPROVED ORGANIZATION SHOULD REDUCE THE
STRAIN ON FAMILIES AND THE DRAIN ON TALENTED, EXPERIENCED, AND 
EXPENSIVELY TRAINED PERSONNEL.

THE GENERAL SAYS THE 15 MONTHS WHEN PILOTS AND CREWS ARE  NOT  
DEPLOYED WILL BE DEVOTED TO TRAINING PEOPLE AND UPGRADING 
AIRCRAFT.  (SIGNED).

NEB/JR/LTD/MMK

04-Aug-98 1:32 PM EDT (1732 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.