RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Eleven members of the Royal Saudi Air Force visited the Air Force Personnel Center here March 21 to share ideas and to gain insight into various military personnel processes.
The RSAF group, led by Brig. Gen. Ali Hamdan Althekri, was escorted by Doug Dippert from the Air Force Division of the U.S. auxiliary training mission to Saudi Arabia, Ken Schuene-meyer, Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs, and various AFPC officials. While here, they visited offices within AFPC and received briefings at the Air Force Manpower Agency and the 12th Mission Support Squadron.
"This is kind of a soup-to-nuts top-down look at how the Air Force does the personnel business," said Maj. Kris Gifford of AFPC's commander's action group. "We're glad to be able to show them some of our procedures and learn about some of theirs."
While at AFPC, the RSAF officers received briefings on many different subjects, from enlisted and officer assignments, professional military education, Airman evaluation systems, promotions, casualty operations and the workings of the Air Force Contact Center. At AFMA they received briefings on competitive sourcing, civilian classifications, grade determination and the role of the manpower requirements squadrons. At the 12th MSS, the visitors observed military personnel flight and civilian personnel flight processes.
At every stop, participants from both air forces exchanged ideas about each nation's procedures, with an emphasis on streamlining and creating efficiency.
The Saudis even got the opportunity to exchange opinions on Texas food, as the group stopped at a local barbecue restaurant for lunch.