If you happen to know any of the 78th Security Forces Squadron troops at Robins Air Force Base and they seem a little more cheerful these days, there’s a reason why.

To take some pressure off the heavily deployed troops, as of Jan. 2, squadron members switched from 12-hour shifts to eight-hour shifts, according to a story in the Robins Rev Up.

In reality, the story stated, the 12-hour shifts were actually 14-hour shifts, and the eight-hour shifts are 10-hour shifts by the time roll call, safety briefings and changeover time is included. The switch allows the airmen to spend more time on training, physical fitness and perhaps most important, being with their families.

“Our defenders have carried a heavy load without complaint,” said Maj. Amy Rivera, squadron commander. “They make great sacrifices for our nation at both a personal and professional level. We owed it to them to provide conditions so they could reconnect with their families, complete some much-needed training, and realize fitness and education goals.”

The story also included the fact that the security forces checked 3.9 million vehicles into the base in 2012.

Air Force favors C-130s over C-27Js

A congressional directive called on the Air Force to keep 32 airlifters it had planned to cut, saying it could decide on a mix of C-130s and C-27Js.

It appears the C-130 is the favored plane, which is good news for Robins Air Force Base. Robins does heavy maintenance and program management of C-130s.

According to a story in the Air Force Times posted online Friday, Air Force Secretary Mike Donley said the Air Force will not reverse plans to cut the C-27Js entirely.

“I do not anticipate that we’re going to change our position on the president’s fiscal year 2013 budget to terminate the C-27 program,” Donley said. “I don’t think we’re going to revisit that.”

That appears to mean 32 C-130s that had been slated for retirement will be kept in the inventory.

The Air Force cut the C-27Js because it said the planes, essentially a smaller version of the C-130, had a limited role that did not justify the cost.

Air Force announces vision

The Air Force released a new vision statement Thursday that encourages airmen to “tell their story” and be proud of who they are and what they do.

According to a story posted on the Air Force website and e-mailed to all airmen, the statement touts the organization’s “five calling cards.”

Those are air and space superiority; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; rapid global mobility; global strike; and command and control.

“We already combine our air, space and cyber forces to maximize these enduring contributions, but the way we execute these five calling cards must continually evolve as we strive to increase our asymmetric advantage,” according to the statement. “Our Airmen’s ability to rethink the battle while incorporating new technologies will improve the varied ways our Air Force accomplishes its missions.”

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.