One suit

  • Published
  • By Wanda Heath
  • ARPC Chief, Management Support Offi ce,
DENVER --  I used the term "purple suit" the other day in a conversation with my co-workers and received that blank stare. You know the blank stare that you are either crazy or you have just seriously dated yourself. 

Okay, so the term was basically used in the late '80s and '90s to refer to military forces working together as one fighting unit. Yesterday's "purple suit" is basically today's "total force" concept. 

I have always liked the term and have continued to use it to define ARPC as a "purple suit" kind of organization where military and civilians work together. 

Statistically, the military at ARPC are outnumbered by civilians almost two to one - even when you include the personnel loaned from the Air Force Personnel Center into the equation. However, when you look deeper you'll find almost half of ARPC's civilian work force are veterans with an average offive years of service or are currently serving with the Air National Guard or the Air Force Reserve. (The five-year figure doesn't include our retirees who have already proudly served 20 or more years.) 

So you can see military blood runs deep within the veins of ARPC not to mention the spouses, children and widowers who also know the military life all so well. ARPC maintains a wealth of corporate knowledge from a diversified yet united work force - military working side by side with their civilian counterparts. 

ARPC has experienced enormous changes over the years with people coming and going, directorate reorganizations and realignments, not to mention our current transition from off the chopping block of BRAC closure to a strong united presence across the Air Reserve Component with the contact center. 

As with any big family, we have endured personality conflicts, human losses, triumphs and rivalries - but we remain family when the sun sets at the end of the day. The future promises many challenges for ARPC with over half of the civilian work force becoming eligible for retirement within the next five years and so much of the working knowledge heading for the door.

 If history is going to continue to evolve, those walking out the doors in uniforms today will return in civilian attire tomorrow along with their family members. 

ARPC will continue to be strong because the "purple suit" work force will still be the driving force behind its success and getting the job done with knowledgeable and qualified personnel.