July 20, 2012 - San Antonio News

PAGE 6
WINGSPREAD
JULY 20, 2012
FUTURE LEADER from P4
C3, it is becoming increasingly important
for future and new leaders to grasp an
understanding about conserving resources
and improving processes.
AFSO21 uses an eight-step problem
solving process: clarify and validate
the problem, break down the problem
and identify performance gaps,
set improvement targets, determine
root cause, develop countermeasures,
see countermeasures through, confirm
results and process, and standardize
successful processes.
Smith has already applied the AFSO21
model to real-world Green Belt-level
events designed to save Airmen time at
the work-center level. The solutions developed
during these two events are designed
to reduce the amount of time it
takes an Airman to find data on a shared
drive and reduce the time required to
complete civilian time cards.
As a result of just two events, more
than 140 hours per year will be returned
to the shop’s Airmen. Hamm
noted while 140 hours per year might
not seem like much, when continuous
improvement becomes a part of every
Airman’s skill set, there will be more
events and savings.
During the summer program, Smith
completed 40 hours of Green Belt
academics hosted by the 12th Flying
Training Wing here. He also observed
two process improvement events at the
59th Medical Wing to solve issues of
missed physical therapy and specialty
clinic appointments by basic military
trainees. Additionally, Smith witnessed
continuous process improvement at a
local industry in San Antonio.
Smith, who’s entering his senior
year at the Academy, plans to carry
his AFSO21 experience into active duty
once he graduates and hopes to pursue
a Black Belt certification, which will
allow him to facilitate wing-level and
higher AFSO21 events.
He said now that he’s done with all
of the training, it gives him the ground
work he’ll need to further build upon
his experience.
“I think of anything I could have
done a summer research project on,
(AFSO21) is going to be the most relevant
and applicable to my career in
the Air Force,” Smith said.
Everything he’s done and seen with the
CLO for the past five weeks has helped
him see the “big picture,” Smith said. He
hopes to make an impact in whatever
career field he gets placed in.
“From now on, budget constraints
are going to be a big issue,” he said.
“That’s one of those things I’ll be able
to help with.”
Tharp said AFSO21 training can
help Smith and other cadets become
better leaders.
“We look forward to helping more
cadets during future summer research
programs,” Tharp said.
502nd Air Base Wing commander
accepts $2,500 AFAS check
Photo by Steve Elliott
Brig. Gen. Theresa C. Carter (right), Joint Base San Antonio and 502nd Air Base Wing
commander, accepts a $2,500 check from retired Lt. Gen. John D. Hopper Jr., Air Force
Aid Society chief executive officer, during a ceremony July 16 at Fort Sam Houston 502nd
ABW Headquarters conference room. The check is given to organizations throughout the Air
Force that exceed their participation goal during the Air Force Assistance Fund campaign.
In this case, the participation rate for Air Force members at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston was
91.2 percent, as opposed to the Air Force average of 22 percent. The $2,500 will be used
for family assistance programs at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston.
President seeks cost-cutting ideas through SAVE award
By Air Force News Service
Acting Undersecretary of the Air
Force Dr. Jamie Morin sends the following
message to the Airmen of the
U.S. Air Force:
The White House continues to
challenge federal employees to identify
areas where we can save scarce
taxpayer dollars while improving the
way the government works. President
Obama believes the best ideas usually
come from the front lines and in 2009
launched the Securing Americans Value
and Efficiency Award to seek ideas
from federal employees about how we
can make government more efficient
and effective.
Over the past three years, federal
employees have submitted more than
75,000 cost-cutting ideas through
the SAVE award. Dozens of the most
promising ideas have been included
in the president’s budget, including
some noteworthy Air Force submissions.
I thank the many Airmen who
participated in prior years and encourage
you to take time to consider and
submit good ideas this year as well.
Please go to the Office of Management
and Budget website (http://www.
whitehouse.gov/save-award) by the
Tuesday deadline if you would like to
submit an idea. You will see award criteria
and prior year award, winning
ideas at the website. You can also encourage
your co-workers to vote on
your idea or submit their own. The
winner gets to come to Washington to
present his or her idea to the president
for possible inclusion in the next
budget.
Our most valuable resource is our
talented and innovative military and
civilian workforce. At a time when
the nation continues to face fiscal and
economic challenges, it’s all the more
important that we work together to get
the maximum combat capability out of
each dollar the taxpayers entrust to
us – every good idea matters.
Again, thank you in advance for
your participation in this year’s SAVE
challenge, and for what each of you do
every day to make our Air Force the
best in the world.