343rd RCS Hub opens in Iowa

by Staff Sgt. Rachelle Blake
55th Wing Public Affairs

4/16/2015 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb.  -- The 343rd Recruiting Squadron hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of their area of operation's first "Hub" April 8 in Waukee, Iowa, as part of the Air Force Recruiting Service's Flight-Centric Transformation program.

"Under this innovative concept, the majority of Air Force recruiters are assigned together in a consolidated office located in a centralized location with their flight chief, rather than having multiple one-or two-person offices," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. James Johnson, AFRS commander and guest speaker. "Recruiting offices located outside of a certain radius of each of these Hubs will be considered a satellite office or 'Spoke,' and will be assigned to a Hub like this one. This construct is enabling the Air Force to strengthen our recruiting force operations."

Since the first hub opening in 2013, the AFRS has seen improved professional development, shortened training times, higher morale, and, in most cases, exceeded recruiting production goals through the end of Feb. 2015.This year alone the AFRS hopes to access 24,000 future Airmen.

The Waukee Hub is the eighth of its kind to open in the past two years.

"I'm excited because this new hub environment will better support, and unleash the full potential of the Air Forces most important resource...America's Airmen," said Lt. Col. Stephen Phillips, 343rd RCS commander.

The general echoed his sentiment.

"The Air Force's overall mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win in Air, Space, and Cyberspace and within that mission statement are many critical subordinate missions," said Johnson. "And, in order to carry these out, the Air Force must recruit talented young men and women from across the country. This newest recruiting Hub represents the future of how the Air Force will successfully recruit the thousands of future Airmen our Nation needs."

According to AFRS, they are projecting to open approximately 160 Flight-Centric Transformation offices around the United States by 2021 and keep approximately 200 existing facilities as satellite offices. Currently recruiting service has 925 enlisted recruiting offices and 183 flight chief offices;, approximately 900 of these existing offices will close during this transformation.

The program will have an estimated cost savings of $11.8 million per year, coming from reductions in real estate, supplies and equipment and manpower costs.

"As a final comment, I would like to highlight that Air Force Recruiting could not be as successful as we are without the partnership of the communities where we live and work; and for this we are tremendously grateful," said Johnson. "Thank you for the support you provide to our Airmen and their families...it is appreciated more than you know."