The US Air Force’s (USAF) Air Combat Command (ACC) 366th Fighter Wing is set to test a new experimental wing organisational structure that will evaluate possible ways to enhance squadron readiness, develop unit leaders and support innovation.

Organisational structure has been initiated by ACC commander general Mike Holmes and changes at the 366th Fighter Wing are expected to begin this month. It is stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB), Idaho, US.

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Holmes said: “This experiment is about our desire to improve lethality and create an environment where leaders are empowered to lead and squadron personnel can focus on their core missions.

“This concept should flatten the decision-making structure within wings to encourage faster, decentralised decision-making and to remove some duties from our frontline units.”

“This experiment is aimed at revitalising our squadrons by allowing them to focus on the mission while pushing administrative duties to a wing staff.”

The current experiment will help the USAF to assess whether a new structure at home stations is capable of increasing the lethality and readiness of a combat wing to enable it to fight across the entire spectrum of combat.

Under the experiment, the ACC and the 366th Fighter Wing created working groups of major stakeholders and designed a detailed plan regarding the way ACC will test the new structure over the next two years.

The experiment will be evaluated through both internal and external assessments of the 366th Fighter Wing compared to similar units using the current wing-group-squadron structure, conducted in and outside the USAF.

366th Fighter Wing commander colonel Joseph Kunkel said: “This experiment is aimed at revitalising our squadrons by allowing them to focus on the mission while pushing administrative duties to a wing staff.

“This puts decision-making authority and accountability for the mission at the squadron level. That’s where we need it to be to build the squadrons and leaders we need for tomorrow’s challenges.”

The new organisational structure will change the rank and positions of unit personnel but will not add to or remove from the total number of airmen assigned to Mountain Home AFB.