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AFSO 21 brief hits FTAC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Airmen at the First Term Airman Center are now receiving an Air Force Smart Operations 21 briefing, which is intended to get them in the mindset to make positive changes in the Air Force earlier in their careers.

The first AFSO 21 brief was given to the group of first-term Airmen Oct. 25.

"Colonel Sharpy's vision was to get the fires for change burning early for the Airmen and this is one of the avenues to get that started," said Maj. Stephen Walmsley, 92nd Air Refueling Wing AFSO 21 chief, referring to Col. Thomas Sharpy, 92nd ARW commander.

AFSO 21 is a program that encourages and initiates changes that can streamline processes in all career fields in order to more effectively conduct the mission in conjunction with force shaping in the Air Force.

Briefing the Airmen in FTAC "sets the tone for the way they see their leadership and the opportunities they have to make changes in the Air Force," said the AFSO 21 chief. "The new eyes are going to be the ones who will see the changes that can be made, rather than the major or master sergeant who has been entrenched in the process so long."

Major Walmsley revealed to the Airmen that AFSO 21 can be a hit in any unit. The FTAC group was comprised of Airmen from varied career fields, each a field that has the potential to be positively affected by an AFSO 21 initiative.

As an example of how different units have been affected by AFSO 21 intiatives, the 92nd Medical Group has saved thousands of dollars by merely providing flyers comparing the advantages and disadvantages of an emergency room and urgent care. The 92nd Operations Group is restructuring training for flyers by shortening the training timeline. And the 92nd Maintenance Group has cut fuel costs and time by putting needed tools on vehicles, rather than making numerous trips between the shop and the aircraft, and by revamping the snow removal process on the flight line.

"This is not just for any particular group or squadron. It can go toward any field," Major Walmsley informed the first term Airmen. Improving efficiency across the board is one of the most important aspects of AFSO 21, "making processes slim and lean, and doing less with less."

"Doing less with less" is one of the goals of AFSO 21, as the Air Force's force shaping cuts back on manning, each process must be simplified in order to get the same or better results with fewer people to do the job.

Each Airman was advised to take a look at their work areas and see what they can do to improve processes and life in the Air Force.