Why deteriorate when you can consolidate

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Rose Richeson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The Airmen of Team Incirlik continue to adapt to personnel changes, which will leave Incirlik with 200 less positions in the near future. In response to an Air Force-wide consolidation of Information Managers the men and women of the 39th Communications Squadron are combining the remaining 17 information managers into three centrally located work sections at the group and wing levels.

"In reality, most base members will probably not see a big difference in IM service but will see a difference in how it is provided," said Capt. Gary Mears, 39th CS information systems flight commander. "The IMs in squadrons will move to the groups and squadrons will be responsible for some of the additional duties that were given to IMs that didn't necessarily fall into their area of responsibility."

By July, the Air Force will cut IM manpower about 28 percent bringing numbers from 9,300 to 6,700 and impacting the 39th CS by a reduction of 24 percent. Incirlik is relying on this consolidation to maximize IM resources and minimize the impact on the squadron mission and the warfighter along with a focus shift to their core functions.

"They'll have more focus on publications and forms management, as well as, CSA duties so you don't see as many non-technical members working on taskings outside of their career field," said Captain Mears.

Client Support Administration is currently being treated as an additional duty in most units due to the lack of dedicated CSA manpower. The consolidation will remove orderly room duties from the IMs and allow for dedicated CSA support within the groups.

"It means that all base members will have CSA support from an actual CSA," said Staff Sgt. Robert Groves, 39th Air Base Wing information manager. "Support will come from the group CSA shops, and all CSA-related duties are only a phone call away."

Change in responsibilities will also be noticed at higher levels within the chain. Group commanders will be responsible for IM resources within their group ensuring that all IM personnel are focused on core competencies and tasks to support the entire group populace. The 39th CS commander will continue to provide functional leadership and management for the base IM population.

"The IMs will report to their respective group commanders and relationships will adapt from the squadron to group level," said Maj. Michael Cote, 39th CS commander. "This is a big challenge ... a large transition as we are ramping up for the Unit Compliance Inspection, but I believe we are ready and focused on the right areas to make this as seamless as possible."

Behind the scenes work is already being done in preparation for the consolidation and the first move will happen by March 2. From now until the consolidation execution date of March 15, IMs will be taking care of all the internal logistics critical to making the transition a success.

"The greatest benefit is the fact that CSAs will actually work together and help each other out on a daily basis," said Sergeant Groves. "Usually we (CSAs) are distributed out across the base and you may only know one or two from your office, but now everyone will be in a central location."