BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. —
The Air Force is well-known for its innovative approach in overcoming challenges through flexibility. The Air Force Manning Assist Program exemplifies the Air Force’s unofficial motto, “The key to Air Power is flexibility”.
For a period of two months, Airman 1st Class Nicholas Santos, a physical therapy technician from the 375th Medical Group at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, provided assistance to Airmen and their families at Beale Air Force Base on their journey towards healing and recovery. Despite being assigned to a different wing, Santos was able to support the physical therapy patients at the 9th Medical Group through the Air Force Manning Assist Program.
“The Air Force Manning Assist Program plays a vital role in addressing staffing shortages,” explained Chief Master Sgt. Charles Santos, senior enlisted leader of the 9th Medical Group. “Our physical therapy clinic was facing a 50% manning deficit, so we reached out to the Defense Health Agency (DHA) which promptly worked with the Air Force Personnel Center to send manning assistance from other military treatment facilities and help bridge the gap.”
According to Air Force Instruction 36-2110, the purpose of manning assistance is to provide temporary manpower to Air Force units and positions in Joint units to ensure mission accomplishment during periods of staffing shortages, known as manning assist Temporary Duty Yonder (TDY).
In a successful example from 2019, Keesler Air Force Base’s Labor and Delivery Clinic, which was experiencing a significant shortage in staffing, received assistance through the Manning Assist Program. DHA deployed four personnel from different branches of service to Keesler, enabling the clinic to fulfill their family readiness objectives, highlighting the program’s critical role in helping Air Force units overcome manpower challenges and maintain operational readiness.
When the 9th Medical Group requested assistance for their staffing shortage, Chief Santos’ son, A1C Nicholas Santos, was selected by the 375th Medical Group to address Beale’s deficit. This unique situation brought the Santos family closer together than ever before.
Furthermore, Chief Santos’ wife, Adelaida Santos, serves as an administrative assistant to the Commander of Beale’s 9th Communications Squadron, and their younger son, A1C Anthony Santos, works as a physical therapy technician with the 81st Medical Group. With all family members serving in different capacities within the Air Force, they found an opportunity to not only fulfill their professional duties but also strengthen their familial bonds by supporting multiple Air Force objectives under one roof.
“This manning assist was a rare opportunity,” said A1C Santos. “It’s not often in the military that you get to assist patients in a location facing critical understaffing, all while working under your father’s leadership.”
In the face of any challenge, the Manning Assist Program showcases how the Air Force continues to exhibit flexibility and resourcefulness in ensuring readiness and mission completion.
