Posted on Oct 8, 2018
Would the creation of redundant duty positions be grounds for a FWA complaint?
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Example: spreading out a flight to 5 different locations across base to do a job that can be accomplished to a better standard from a single location. Putting newly task certified airmen on shift alone for 12 hours at a time to maintain said 5 locations. I understand how money and resources factor into FWA but not necessarily manning resources.
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 1
TSgt (Join to see) , I'm not sure I understand the issue. What type of mission are you performing? If you are CE, MX, admin, etc I don't see the problem with sending troops to locations on base that may be closer to the job site. If they are being cross-trained to learn different functions, I also don't see the problem. You should never have a single point of failure for specific tasks (ie: only one unit member is certified in performing specific task/function). I also don't know if your central unit building is inadequate for the number of members you have. Could your commander be sending people to alternate locations due to resource limitations in your own Squadron building? None of those rise to the FWA threshold. As for the newly certified Airmen being left alone, what are YOU doing to check up on them? That's YOUR job as an NCO to see to the "care and feeding" of younger troops. If they are task certified, what is the concern? If they are not capable of performing the assigned task, why are the being certified? (sorry, my SME and senior task evaluator is coming out) Again, that is YOUR responsibility as an NCO to properly train and mentor new Airmen. Assuming you have not voiced any of these concerns to your NCOIC, Superintendent, and/or 1Sgt, I'd suggest starting there. It's possible they are not aware of the situation being created.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Thanks for the response! The reason I made the post is because my plan is to gather as much information and insight as I can from non-biased sources (like yourself) to bring a more refined discussion to the unit’s table. One major side effect of our structure right now is that supervisors very rarely (if ever) work shifts with their troops. I trained all 14 new airmen at my last unit, but am currently in a situation where I’m completely separated from my flight for months at a time. We’re basically at these other buildings creating products that can be very easily created and disseminated from a single location. Our justification to be at these locations is “to discuss the products to the customer” (who more often than not don’t need explanations), which can all be done quite easily over the phone/email/radio from a separate location. Also, 70% of the time there is nothing significant to discuss with regards to mission impacts. Our manning allotments have also increased due to our presence at these locations, taking bodies from an already critically manned career field. Simply put, our program at these locations is not necessary for mission success and has very little empirical evidence to support its existence.
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