Diversity is key to 309 AMARG's flexibility Published Jan. 14, 2008 By Col. Tony Panek Commander, 309 AMARG N/A -- The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group located at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., is the newest member of Ogden Air Logistics Center's 309th Maintenance Wing. In May 2007, AMARC, known as the Boneyard by many, was deactivated and renamed 309 AMARG, an organization with a very diverse mission. People often ask about the make-up of the 309 AMARG workforce. The answer often surprises them: only five full-time military personnel work at the facility, with Federal Service Civilians and contractors making up the vast majority of our 769-member AMARG Team. The 309 AMARG demographic breaks out into 582 federal service civilians and 182 contractors. Of our federal service civilians 506 are men, 79 women, 148 retired from one of the military services, 483 have some military experience, 12 are deaf, and four are legally blind. AMARG's successes stem from the strength, professionalism and experience every one of these members brings to our very diverse workforce. This diversity spreads far beyond the physical make up of our workforce as each of our outstanding professionals bring a wealth of technical skills and knowledge to bear every day, making it possible for this Group to regenerate aircraft, reclaim vital parts, conduct essential aircraft maintenance and safely store and ultimately dispose of aircraft. Multiple aircraft maintenance skills, supply and logistics knowledge, planning and scheduling abilities, financial management expertise, carpentry and wood workers skills, I.T., business office and administrative capabilities are just a few of the knowledge fields that broaden the depth and experience of the 309 AMARG team. In addition to diverse workforce skills, combining what makes each of us different ... whether we are introverts or extroverts, visionaries or builders, feelers or thinkers, our ethnic and religious backgrounds, our cultural heritage . . . and taking full advantage of those skills, points of view and experiences always results in a more productive and cohesive team. Through our diversity we thrive. Without that broad range or experiences, knowledge, cultures, and service, transformation and continuous process improvement would be virtually impossible. Only through such diversity can we hope to generate the better ways of doing business - of serving our customers - that will consistently produce quality products and services, on time, at best value while meeting warfighter requirements and continually improving both our Group and our Aerospace Management System. In short, a diverse workforce carries different points of view and the skills to tackle problems, a significant advantage for any organization. When molded together, all the individual skills and experiences results in a whole that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Together, those parts - the members of our AMARG workforce -- create a more cohesive team with everyone contributing toward the common mission and goals.