AF begins centralizing major commands' Services functions Published April 27, 2012 By Eric M. Grill Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO -- The Air Force is moving forward with Services Functional Centralization, transferring Services roles and responsibilities from major commands' headquarters to San Antonio to centralize functions and improve efficiencies. Services Functional Centralization is the direct result of guidance provided in 2010 by then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to achieve $100 billion in savings by the end of 2015. As one of several efforts to meet Secretary Gates' instructions, Air Force senior leaders directed the centralization of the Services' function. Initial operational capability was reached on April 1 for Services Functional Centralization. The functional oversight and management responsibilities from the major commands for the Sustainment function were transferred to experts in San Antonio, with whom installation officials will now directly work with. All functions will be transferred, in phases, by Oct. 1, 2012. An onsite executive advisor will remain at each MAJCOM as a liaison to facilitate communication to MAJCOM senior leaders on the Services functions. The first phase, Sustainment Services, began April 1 with the transfer of fitness, lodging, Air Force Clubs and appropriated funds food programs. April 1 also marked the initial operational capability of the Installation Support Directorate, the organization responsible for the direct support of the force support squadrons. The second phase, Community Services, begins June 1 with the transfer of the bowling center, golf course, community centers and library programs among others. The third phase, Airman and Family Services, begins Aug. 1, where all remaining Continental U.S. installations' program oversight, including the Airman and Family Readiness program and the Child and Youth program, will be transferred. Functional consolidation testing began in February using Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and the three operating locations that make up Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, to learn the installation and major command processes and installation "unique" issues. "We mapped out several of the installations' processes and how they previously interacted with their respective major commands," said Craig Penman, Air Force Services Agency Beta team lead. "There's uniqueness to every command and they each have their own ways of doing business," he said. Using the test, he said, they were able to see those processes and build upon them. "While the centralization will be transparent to Airmen and families we are changing the organizational structure, roles, and responsibilities to eliminate duplicative processes and become more efficient in the way we provide guidance and assistance to our installations," said Brig. Gen. Eden Murrie, director of Air Force Services. "At the end of day, the Air Force must be smarter about how to deliver quality services to Airmen and their families, but we are committed to being responsive in this transition process and with future Services operations," Murrie said. For more information on Air Force Services activities, visit www.afsv.af.mil.