Air Force
adjustments mean
gains at Hickam

Wheeler air field will see a
loss of 39 military positions

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

Hickam Air Force Base will gain 20 military and 32 civilian positions as the Air Force adjusts its fighting force for the new fiscal year that will begin Oct. 1.

Maj. James Law, Pacific Air Forces public affairs officer, said overall, "the Air Force will see an increase of 2,844 military positions and 310 civilian."

Law said the Air Force periodically "takes a look at its force structure for improved efficiency and makes adjustments."

In the Pacific at Hawaii, Alaska and Guam, the Air Force projects 196 new military positions and 62 civilian authorizations when the new fiscal year begins. The biggest increase will be at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, where there will be a gain of 110 military and 10 civilian authorizations, with the largest increase of 97 in the area of F-15 jet fighter maintenance.

Pacific Air Forces will celebrate its 57th year of continued service on Aug. 3 as America's provider of air and aerospace forces in the Pacific theater.

At Hickam, Law said the 15th Medical Group will have some major adjustments. The group will lose nine military slots but will gain one civilian position as it adjusts the level of health care services at the base.

The 15th Air Base Wing will gain 27 military and four civilian positions in its mission to support the Air Force's Expeditionary Aerospace Force concept -- units that are deployed worldwide on a rotational basis.

The Pacific Air Forces Privatization Squadron, which oversees privatization of Hickam's military family housing and utilities operations, will pick up one military and six civilian positions.

The only loss of positions at a Hawaii base will be the 39 military slots at Wheeler Army Air Field, where the Air Force's 324th Intelligence Squadron's rolls will drop by 20 because of consolidation of airborne linguist specialists with those at a mainland base, and 19 other military positions because of changes in the unit's mission.