Backtalk: Put ‘sortie generation’ troops with pilots? It makes sense

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Put ‘sortie generation’ troops with pilots? It makes sense
By Robert F. Dorr

The Air Force has announced changes for crew chiefs and other enlisted airmen who make it possible for pilots to fly.

The troops who generate sorties — a single flight by a single plane — will be going back where they belong. The typical crew chief will soon be a member of the same squadron as the pilot who yanks and banks in that crew chief’s aircraft.

The change, at least initially, will affect fighter and combat search-and-rescue squadrons, which will be realigned between July and November 2008.

The change will be controversial. Objections will come from those who resist any kind of change at all and from those who fault the Air Force for reorganizing too often.

More pointed criticism may come from maintenance officers, who will lose direct supervision of some enlisted airmen. Some pilots, who would rather work stick-and-throttle than oversee enlisted members, may also lob a few brickbats.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_sortiegeneration_071224/