AFSO21

Maj. Sean Goode briefs Airmen from the squadron before an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century event where the Airmen learned to apply eight-step process to promote awareness of underage drinking, April 15, 2014, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The AFSO21 principles and tools enable Airmen to change the day-to-day operating style to integrate continuous improvement into the full spectrum of Air Force operations, and can be applied to any aspect of the mission. Goode is the 92nd Maintenance Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes/Released)

AFSO21

2nd Lt. Helen Park works with Airman 1st Class Mary Cannon to make lists for each of the eight steps in the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century event where the Airmen learned to apply eight-step process to promote awareness of underage drinking, April 15, 2014, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The AFSO21 principles and tools enable Airmen to change the day-to-day operating style to integrate continuous improvement into the full spectrum of Air Force operations, and can be applied to any aspect of the mission. Park is the 92nd Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight officer in charge, and Cannon is 92nd MXS metals technician. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes/Released)

Airmen use AFSO21 to bring awareness to underage drinking

Published April 21, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- More than 20 Airmen from the 92nd Maintenance Squadron gathered with squadron leaders to learn and apply the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century eight-step process to promote awareness of underage drinking April 15.

The AFSO21 principles and tools enable Airmen to change the day-to-day operating style to integrate continuous improvement into the full spectrum of Air Force operations, and can be applied to any aspect of the mission.

Maj. Sean Goode, 92nd MXS commander, opened with remarks teaching the Airmen about the eight-step process, saying it's a good way to identify a problem, determine the background of it, and approach a solution. He said the process can be used for addressing any type of problem in a military and civilian environment.

"I like using it in this format because it's concise," said Goode. "But more importantly, this event is meant to offer Airmen an opportunity to find positive alternatives to drinking and helps them avoid putting themselves at risk of trouble for breaking the law."

The Airmen broke off into three small groups, all led by an NCO, to discuss underage drinking and come up with solutions to the prevent it using AFSO21.

The process' eight steps are to clarify and validate the problem, break down the problem and identify performance gaps. They also set target improvements, determine root causes, develop countermeasures, see countermeasures through, confirm results and processes and standardize successful processes.

Going through the steps, the Airmen agreed it opened their eyes to underage drinking and together they developed reasons for it happening and possible solutions to prevent and minimize it.

"What this process is doing is bringing the situation up, and letting people know underage drinking is a big deal and not something to be taken nicely," said Airman 1st Class Mary Cannon, 92nd MXS metals technician. "Going through the eight steps was a good way to assess a problem."

Cannon, along with Airman 1st Class Antonio Gutierrez, 92nd MXS crew chief, said the best aspect of the group dynamic was getting various points of view from different people and brainstorming.

"It was good because people have different ideas and feed off each other's thoughts," said Gutierrez. "I felt the event went really well and that this eight-step process could work for many scenarios."

In the near future, the groups of participants plan to brief their commander on possible solutions for spreading awareness and preventing underage drinking, as well as applying the AFSO21 concept to other areas that could be improved.