The Department of the Air Force activated its new Air Force Accessions Center in a strategic move to streamline all pathways to Air Force and Space Force service during a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Dec. 4.
The new center merges the Air Force Recruiting Service at JBSA-Randolph and the Jeanne Holm Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, which oversees officer training school, warrant officer training school and junior and reserve officer training corps, under one organization to oversee recruitment, officer accessions and citizen development.
Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of Air Education and Training Command, delivered the opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of the AFAC in the Department of the Air Force's mission to recruit Airmen and Guardians to project global airpower and respond to emerging threats.
"Every organization, if it wants to survive through time, must adapt to the operational environment that it finds itself in," Robinson said. "The Air Force, for the first time in the last 30 years is at another one of those monumental occasions."
After the formal activation of AFAC, Brig. Gen. Christopher Amrhein, AFRS commander, assumed command, making him dual-hatted as the AFRS and AFAC commander. His remarks highlighted the synergy gained in combining recruitment efforts under unified leadership.
"The establishment of AFAC is more than just a reorganization; it is the realization of a bold vision to streamline and enhance our processes for inspiring, recruiting and developing the finest Airmen and Guardians our nation has to offer," Amrhein said. "The success of AFAC lies in its ability to unite and align the strengths of the Air Force Recruiting Service and the Holm Center missions."
The establishment of AFAC marks a significant milestone, transitioning from its provisional status to initial operational capability. This activation is the first of its kind since the merger of the 24th and 25th Air Forces into the 16th Air Force in 2019, signaling a strategic move to enhance the Air Force's global threat response and bolster its warfighting capabilities.
AFAC's activation is a critical part of the Department of Air Force's overall efforts to reoptimize for Great Power Competition.
As we look at the journey, I'm reminded of the timeless quote from Field of Dreams: 'If you build it, they will come,'" Amrhein said. "This embodies the spirit of AFAC's creation - a vision brought to life with the expectation that the very best will join us, inspired by our purpose and the opportunities we provide."
