The Impacts of A-76 on the Personnel of Air Force Civil Engineering Squadrons
Abstract
The Office ofM:magement and Budget Circular A-76, revised 2003, is changing
the manning of civil engineering squadrons throughout Air Force Air Education and
Training Command. Although the circular is attempting to make the most efficient
organization for budget purposes, it is important to see how manning will change as a
result.
The objectives of this paper were to evaluate what types of performance outcomes
were occurring within the A-76 competitions within Air Education and Training Command
and also to see how these decisions were forming the personnel changes within the
organization. Three separate databases were utilized: one for personnel data retrieval, one
for A-76 data retrieval, and one to research the history of contracts involved. The types of
competition outcomes were analyzed and compared with how manning had changed over
the same period of time.
It was found that there were only two A-76 studies within AETC since the 2003
revision: Keesler AFB and Sheppard AFB. Both of these studies had resulted in a
performance decision in favor of the private contractor for base operation services, those
which include general building maintenance and grounds keeping, as well as utility and
power management. When investigating the personnel outcomes, it can be inf erred that
A-76 performance decisions definitely have an impact on personnel changes within the
organization. As to what those changes are, it appears that when the decision is in favor of a private contractor, civilian and enlisted engineers are negatively affected, where the
effects on officer engineers and the enlisted squadron as a whole are not so straightforward.
This paper helps to define the changes occurring in today's Air Force as a result of
fewer airmen available. The results may be useful to policy makers, squadron
commanders, and those mterested in contracting with the Air Force.