Dianne Hibbs, Department of Defense Expeditionary Civilians (DOD-EC) program manager from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, speaks to a rapt audience about the DOD-EC program at the Coalition Theater on Bagram Airfield Sept. 11. The open forum allowed deployed DOD-ECs to provide feedback and recommendations on the program.
Hibbs, who has deployed twice as a DOD-EC in Afghanistan, said the U.S. government has been deploying Civilians to combat zones since the American Revolution. She called the current program an important way for Civilians to contribute to their military and to their nation.
Hibbs said the DOD-EC program will be in transition over the next year as it is being reviewed and revamped to provide more structure and improved processes. Some of the many changes that are being considered include:
1. Services and Agencies, not DOD, will be responsible for filling the DOD-EC positions
2. Increased communication between program and home station/supervisors
3. R&R Changes - so that personal leave days are not used when personnel are delayed traveling in and out of theater for R&R
4. Mitigating the difficult lengthy transportation process in and out of theater
4. Training requirements and medical process
Area Support Group-Afghanistan (ASG-A) employs the vast majority of DOD-ECs in Combined Joint Operations Area Afghanistan (CJOA). ASG-A provides everything from billeting, laundry and food service to public works and quality of life support to more than 35,000 personnel throughout the CJOA-A. That personnel includes U.S. military, DOD Civilians, Contractors and Coalition Forces who are contributing to Resolute Support, the NATO-led, non-combat mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).
For more information about the DOD-EC program, visit https://www.cpms.osd.mil/expeditionary/. To provide feedback and suggestions, contact the USFOR-A J1 at centcom.bagram.usfor-a-j1.mbx.civ-hr-a1@mail.mil.
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