Choose Well and Choose Wisely
- UA
- Sep 17, 2021
- 9 min read
By Chris "UA" Lessard
As 13Ms, we are required to go through a rigorous training program. That program includes training in air traffic control (ATC), airfield management (AM), radar, airfield and weather systems (RAWS), and airfield operations management (AOM). Once we complete the 13M Initial Skills Training (IST) and Follow-on Skills Training (FST) requirements, we are now ready to be an Airfield Operations Flight Director of Operations (AOF/DO) or Systems Officer (AOF/SO). In these positions, we begin to apply the knowledge attained during our lengthy training. Then, one day, we become an Airfield Operations Flight Commander (AOF/CC).
Hopefully, you had AOF/CCs or 13M mentors that gave you a look into their decision-making matrix or their leadership philosophy. I know I had numerous AOF/CCs or 13Ms sit down and discuss their reasons for decisions or why they are taking a specific action. I cannot understate how these mentorship sessions helped build my leadership philosophy or understanding of holistic airfield operations. However, one item I was never given any advice or pointers on was, “How does an AOF/CC pick their staff?” I know it sounds weird, right? As 13Ms, we spend so much time discussing the four major graded areas of Executing the Mission, Leading People, Managing Resources, and Improving the Unit; yet not much time picking the people to execute those areas. This article is intended to help fill that specific gap.
Before discussing the “how-to,” let’s set up what we mean by picking the AOF Staff. In the AFMAN 13-204v1, the AOF Staff is defined as:
1.11. AOF Staff. The typical AOF staff is comprised of an Airfield Operations Flight Commander (AOF/CC); Airfield Operations Flight Director of Operations (AOF/DO); Airfield Operations Flight Systems Officer (AOF/SO); Airfield Manager (AFM); Tower and/or Radar facility Chief Controller (CCTLR); Non-commissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC), RAWS Quality Assurance; NCOIC, ATC Training (NATCT); NCOIC, ATC Standardization and Evaluation (NSE); NCOIC, Airfield Automation Manager (NAAM); Airfield Operations System Specialist (AOSS); Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS) Specialist (if not consolidated at MAJCOM); and/or civilian equivalents.
This article will focus on the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM (if not civilianized) since they are the positions you have a hand in determining. The other AOF Staff positions are most likely assigned by AFPC due to career progression or development. Additionally, the NCOIC, Airfield Management Training (NAMT), NCOIC, Airfield Management Operations (NAMO), and other similar positions historically, and currently, fall under their respective section chiefs. As the AOF/CC, you may be asked your opinion or advice on various positions by the respective section chief. However, only those listed in the AFMAN 13-204v1, as described above, work directly for the AOF/CC.
There are a series of questions I recommend contemplating before assigning personnel to those positions.
1. How will you utilize the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM positions? For example, the NATCT is responsible for the entire ATC Training Program and possibly the majority of the Training Review Board (TRB) discussion. Do you expect the NATCT to compile AM and RAWS data for the TRB, or do you have the AOF/DO or SO to do this action? If the AOF/DO or SO, what happens if they are gone for extended absences (i.e., deployments, other Squadron/Group/Wing duties). If you expect the NATCT to facilitate the TRB, will they brief on the status of all the sections or none?
2. Who actually selects the personnel for these positions? You will be selecting personnel that currently reside in the ATC facilities, most likely as experienced Watch Supervisors. Therefore, do you let the CCTLRs determine the personnel for the positions, or do you, as the AOF/CC, pick them? You might be surprised by how many different philosophies there are on this question.
3. What qualities or characteristics are you looking for in the personnel for these positions? This item ties directly back to the first question.
4. Do you have an appropriate qualified uniformed Airman to fulfill these roles?
We will discuss these questions in-depth in the subsequent paragraphs.
How will you utilize the NATCT, NSE, NAAM?
According to AFMAN 13-204v3, a key responsibility of the NATCT is to organize and brief the AOF TRB. Does this mean the NATCT compiles all data for each section and then briefs the AOF Staff at the monthly TRB? Or does it mean the NATCT will create a template, have each section compile the data, and then brief their respective sections? You can interpret this responsibility into many different specific tasks. Additionally, while not explicitly listed as a responsibility for the NSE, do you plan to use them as part of the Wing Inspection Team (WIT)? Both the NSE primary responsibilities and WIT responsibilities are very similar. Furthermore, the NAAM’s responsibilities mainly discuss managing the ATC systems. However, the skills required of a NAAM or their subordinates, Airfield Operations System Specialist (AOSS), can be utilized to oversee all the AOF’s automation systems (e.g. Airfield Automated System [AFAS]) not listed under the NAAM’s responsibilities.
During my time as an AOF/CC, I came to view the positions on the AOF Staff as holistic staff positions. This is because I quickly concluded as an acting AOF/CC, 13Ms were the only personnel in the entire flight who understood each section’s operations and requirements. I used the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM positions as force multipliers to the 13Ms and developed the personnel in those positions. For example, when selecting a NATCT, I wanted an NCO that understood collaboration amongst the four sections within the flight (RAPCON, Tower, AM, RAWS). The collaboration between them is essential to effective and efficient Airfield Operations. Additionally, the NATCT must be willing to learn how the other sections trained their personnel. The NATCT can provide the NAMT, or NCOIC of RAWS Training, advice on applicable effective training techniques utilized within the other sections. Finally, I expected the NATCT to be the AOF’s primary point of contact to coordinate training actions and requirements with the Squadron Unit Training Manager (UTM) for the monthly updates to the Commander.
I determined that the NSE position under me would be utilized as the NSE and the lead AOF WIT. The NSE position would coordinate all WIT actions between the various AOF WIT personnel within the sections. The NSE would also be the focal point to coordinate with the Squadron, Group, and Wing Exercise Planning Teams. While I still participated in the exercise planning by providing the NSE my overall desired objectives for the flight, I delegated most of the Flight WIT requirements to the NSE.
I saw the NAAM role as more significant than what is described in the AFMANs 13-204V1 & 3. I still expected the NAAM to carry out its primary responsibilities. However, I felt they were underutilized for an AOF Staff position. Therefore, I needed the NAAM to assess how the flight could become more effective and efficient by utilizing various automation methods or processes. This could be more effectively utilizing a USAF-wide procured collaboration system (Microsoft Sharepoint) or integrating various hardware into the AFAS capabilities. Therefore, when choosing a NAAM, I was looking for a controller that understood the ATC automation systems and how the entire flight could be better with automation.
Who actually selects the personnel for these positions?
As mentioned above, there are numerous opinions on this question. Some 13Ms prefer the Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) Chief Controller (CCTLR) or Tower CCTLR pick the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM since they know those personnel best and understand the career progression implications. Some 13Ms prefer to select them by committee with votes from the section chiefs or the AOF Staff. Then some ask the previous NATCT, NSE, or NAAM to pick their successor since they know the job requirements. Some 13Ms prefer to select these positions on their own, without input from other sources. Finally, you could have a combination of any of these processes. Honestly, none of these preferences are wrong. The process, or combination of processes, you choose depends on many variables (i.e., AOF/CC experience, time at the location, size of flight, local experience of Section Chiefs, etc.).
I chose different processes at different times as the assigned AOF/CC or acting AOF/CC. As a young First Lieutenant and acting AOF/CC, I relied heavily on the RAPCON CCTLR and Tower CCTLR to recommend personnel for an upcoming NSE vacancy. I then interviewed each candidate with the CCTLRs, and we jointly made a choice. As a young Captain at a complex flight, I asked the outgoing NAAM to recommend the best candidate to fulfill his position. I was still learning precisely what the NAAM position’s responsibilities were and what the position brought to the flight. As a Major and AOF/CC at a complex flight, I had an opportunity to select both the NATCT and NSE due to the outgoing personnel PCSing at the same time. This time, I had plenty of experience with previous NATCTs and NSEs to know precisely how I wanted those positions to operate within the flight. Therefore, I discussed my intentions with the CCTLRs, since I would choose two of their people and selected both positions without allowing the Section Chiefs to vote on the choices.
What qualities or characteristics are you looking for in the personnel for these positions?
Regardless of which process you use to select the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM positions, you should know what qualities and characteristics you are looking for in the personnel. Again, what qualities and characteristics you choose may depend on several variables. For instance, answers to the first question posed in this article may determine certain qualities and characteristics for each position based on how you plan to utilize the positions. Additionally, suppose you have an ATC training program that is sound on paper but ineffective during execution. In that case, you may want a NATCT that is more hands-on or involved with trainers during execution, which requires a more personable NATCT. Suppose the ATC training program needs an in-depth overhaul. In that case, you may want someone motivated when working on technical details. Additionally, I think it is safe to assume you want a NAAM that is careful with the small details when implementing time compliance technical orders (TCTOs). However, suppose you want them to engage the rest of the flight on automation processes. In that case, you may also need that person to have the necessary people skills required to be effective.
Do you have an appropriate qualified uniformed NCO to fulfill these roles?
In most AOFs, you will have more than enough qualified and appropriate NCOs to fulfill the AOF Staff Positions, and this question is not required. However, there are a few flights that are consistently undermanned or heavily tasked with 179-day deployments. In these circumstances, you will have to ask, Do we have the appropriate qualified uniformed NCOs available to fulfill the NATCT, NSE, or NAAM positions? If the answer is no, the next question is, Do we have anyone qualified to fulfill those roles? Most likely, the answer to the question is yes.
In most AOFs, an enormous amount of technical competency and understanding of the ATC training, standardization, and automation programs reside within the flight. This competency exists in your civilian force. Civilians are a valuable part of the ATC facilities. They can provide you with a different viewpoint or way to think about solutions to problems. AFMAN 13-204v1 2.9.2.2. states, “When military staffing warrants, the AOF/CC may approve temporary appointments of qualified GS-2152s to airfield operations ATC staff positions.” Suppose you decide to utilize a civilian as a temporary NATCT, NSE, or NAAM. In that case, I recommend you express your intent to take that action with your CCTLRs, Squadron Commander, MAJCOM Functional, and possibly your wing’s Civilian Personnel Officer (CPO). Coordinating with CPO may not be required, but it is best to cover all your bases. Additionally, I recommend you discuss this option with the civilians in mind since they will probably have to change shifts or take on an additional workload. I highly recommend you consider them as a solution to your temporary manpower issue.
Another option is to utilize the “Assistants” of those positions within the facilities to take over the primary roles within their facility. For example, you may have numerous A/NATCTs available within either the Tower or RAPCON. Still, none may meet the requirement to assume the NATCT position due to the 5-year performance of ATC duties requirement in AFMAN 13-204v3 A2.7.1. In this case, you can work with the CCTLRs to ensure that each A/NATCT performs the roles/responsibilities of the NATCT within their facility but not appoint them as the AOF NATCT. If you decide on this route, you will have to answer some follow-on questions:
1. Who oversees the TRB?
2. Who is responsible for coordinating with the squadron Unit Training Manager and MAJCOM Training Managers?
3. How should the A/NATCTs interact with the AOF/CC if there is no NATCT assigned?
An additional option is to assign a single qualified NCO as the TSN to oversee the Training and Standardization roles within the flight. The TSN would then assume all roles and responsibilities of the NATCT and NSE into a combined position. The AFMAN 13-204v3 states that a TSN is typically assigned at a location where only one 1C1X1 position is authorized in the flight support element. However, there is nothing in the AFMAN prohibiting an AOF/CC from utilizing the TSN concept at any flight. This option should only be utilized for temporary needs at locations which have an authorized NATCT, and NSE since those locations probably have extensive training and standardization workloads. The TSN will need to leverage the A/NATCTs and A/NSEs to help carry the workload while the TSN oversees both programs. I would not recommend this option as a long-term solution because it takes away a key developmental opportunity for an ATC NCO. The CCTLRs will need to “buy in” on the solution since their A/NATCTs and A/NSEs will be more heavily utilized.
Regardless of how you utilize the positions, which process you use to select the personnel, or what qualities or characteristics you need the personnel to possess, remember the NATCT, NSE, and NAAM works for the AOF/CC. There are many right ways to choose your AOF Staff positions. Each person may have different needs and requirements and therefore make different decisions. Finally, your process may change over time with the additional experience and wisdom you acquire, like mine did. Go forth, choose well, and choose wisely!
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