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Recruiting Service reorganizes, increases recruiting force

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  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Big changes are underway for Air Force Recruiting Service, but despite the scope of things to come, officials here say people interested in joining the Air Force should hardly notice.

Effective Oct. 1, AFRS realigns its four groups into three, reduces recruiting squadrons from 27 to 24, and reorganizes Health Professions recruiting into 24 regional hubs throughout the United States. In addition to the reorganization, AFRS is adding 124 recruiters and 76 support staff members to the command.

The changes are in response to Program Budget Decision 720 and the Air Force's recent announcement to increase the force size from 316,000 personnel to 330,000. PBD 720 is the plan that charts how the Air Force will save billions of dollars for use in replacing aging aircraft and equipment by streamlining its force, and by increasing the efficiency of select organizations and processes. The plan was initiated in fiscal year 2007 and is scheduled to continue through fiscal 2009.

"The vast majority of our customers won't see any changes to the way we conduct business," said Lt. Col. Anthony Young, AFRS Plans and Resources Division chief. "The impacts of the restructuring and reorganization are mostly internal. The biggest impact will be to the members of the closing units."

The 367th Recruiting Group, headquartered at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., will be deactivated Sept. 12; and the 318th Recruiting Squadron in New Cumberland, Pa., the 330th RCS in Indianapolis, Ind., and the 342nd RCS in Ft. Snelling, Minn., will also close. All recruiting squadrons, offices and functions from the 367th RCG will be absorbed by the other three recruiting groups.

Brig. Gen. A.J. Stewart, AFRS commander, said that although recruiting service has shrunk to three groups, the Air Force is still hiring and recruiting offices will remain open. He also said that the regionalizing of the Health Professions offices is a major change in the right direction.

"The Air Force has been recruiting quality men and women with the right skills, at the right time, in the right numbers for eight consecutive years; and we are going to meet our goals again this year," the general said. "While we are restructuring our force in response to PBD 720 and the increase in the Air Force's endstrength, we have made smart changes that will help us focus our enlisted and Health Professions recruiting so we'll have continued recruiting success in the future."

For people interested in a Health Professions career in the Air Force, the reorganization means that rather than visiting a recruiting office, they will schedule appointments for the specialized recruiter to meet with them. Officer accessions recruiters are also slated to move, sharing space with the 24 new HP flight locations across the United States.

As a result of the restructuring, AFRS manning, and recruiting office numbers and locations will change throughout fiscal 09. The organization's number of authorized personnel will increase slightly to 2,848 from the 2,621 assigned as of July 31. However, the number of enlisted, and line officer and Health Professions recruiting offices, and their locations in the United States and overseas is still being determined.

For more information about the Air Force or to find the nearest recruiter, visit www.AIRFORCE.com. The site averages 500,000 visitors monthly, providing information about Air Force career opportunities and benefits, online advisors, and recruiting office locations and contact information. In addition, people can call 1-800-423-USAF for the location of the nearest recruiting office and the phone number.