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Show t O Hilltop Times June 17. 2004 AFMC leaders visiting force study respondents by Llbby Van Hook AFMC Public Affairs AFB, Ohio (AFM-CNAir Force Materiel Command are hitting the road on an tour to discuss the recent Junior Force Study, with the goal of better molding present and future generations. Lt. Gen. Richard Reynolds, AFMC vice commander, and Ray Pelletier of the Pelletier Group, left here June 7 on a visit to AFMC installations to learn about existing issues in the junior force talent pool. Gen. Greg Martin, AFMC commander, sent Mr. Pelletier and his organization out early this year to consessions duct a series of intensive throughout the command. General Reynolds and Mr. Pelletier will f those who visit Hill Friday to WRIGHT-PATTERSO- N S) offi-cia- across-the-comman- ls d fact-findi- out-brie- participated in the Junior Force Study in January. They will brief the original attendees at 2:30 p.m. on the results and then first and second line supervisors at 3:45 p.m. in the Contracting Directorate's conference room, Bldg. 1289. The Junior Force Study 2004, titled "The Next Greatest Generation," focused on AFMC's junior enlisted people, junior Air Force civilians and company grade officers. It was of designed to gain insight on a this segment of the command so AFMC leaders can better lead, coach and train them. The Pelletier organization's study had two primary functions. First, to focus on how the junior force feels regarding the work they are doing; and second, to make recommendations on how to improve their morale and increase retention. "I asked the study participants to provide the Pelletier Group with honest, unvarnished opinions and observations about their concerns and their ideas as part of the Air Force and AFMC and they delivered," General Martin said. "The study found that we were doing many things right, but there is room for improvement. "I promised the junior force we would share the results of the study as soon as we had a chance to review and begin to understand the thoughtful comments they provided us while participating in this study," General Martin said, "and that's exactly what we're doing with this tour." During the tour of installations, General Reynolds and Mr. Pelletier are meeting cross-sectio- n with study participants and their front-lin- e supervisors to share the findings of both the Pelletier study and data from the recent Chief of Staff Survey. "I asked General Reynolds and Mr. Pelletier to share a couple of thoughts on junior force development and the future of AFMC," General Martin said. "Our nation has been dominant on the battle field in five significant conflicts since 1991 as a result of this nation's air and space forces - when we use air and space power correctly, we win. ..and we win quickly and decisively! "The whole Air Force rides on the backs of the men and women of AFMC," General Martin continued. "The work that you do powers the greatest air and space force in history with ingenuity, technology and sustainment. I don't think we get the thanks But or respect that we deserve for our efforts. This study gives us that impression as well." General Martin acknowledges that some of the significant changes in the way AFMC is organized and structured has created a certain amount of turbulence. Those include moving Program Executive Officers from Washington to the product centers; making those center commanders both PEOs and commanders; and reorganizing the headquarters and center staff structures to properly support acquioften-time- Save up to $365 a year by switching to USAA. s, sition and sustainment processes brought about that PEO restructure. In addition to these changes, AFMC leaders are reviewing the command's goals and standards to better understand its performance to the operational major commands. "All of these changes have been initiated d with the purpose of giving our people the best chance to continue building the World's Most Respected Air and Space single-minde- Force while receiving the credit they deserve," General Martin said. Under Gen. Martin's guidance, command leaders formed a team to combine the results of the Junior Force study with those from the current Air Force Chief of Staff Air Force survey. He said team members plan to use this information to develop an action plan designed to provide better opportunities throughout the command. "We must work together, as the top leadership of today and tomorrow, I am calling on you to make a positive difference for the future," General Martin said. "I'm counting on each and every one of you to work with me to improve the development of our junior force." Find out why more than 3 million military members and their families trust USAA for auto insurance. Flexible payment plans to fit your lifestyle and budget 24-ho- ur claims service that includes free roadside assistance Towing and labor coverage Superior customer service Coverage that moves with you, even to many overseas locations For a personalized quote, call our toll-fre- e number or visit us online at usaa.com and select "Become a Member' what it means to serve. 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Commander's Call answers: Personnel, retirement, 'scorecard, ' DELTA The following answers are provided for the questions asked during Maj. Gen. Kevin Sullivan's May 26 Commander's Call. Additional questions will be answered in upcoming editions of the Hilltop Times. Is there anything being done to improve or streamline the process used to change and update civilian position descrip- tions? With the implementation of the National Security Personnel System, position descriptions, pay schedules, and salary increases will cease to exist as we know them today. The new personnel system, to begin implementation in 2005, is the most drastic reform in personnel since the Civil Service Reform Act of 1979. Not only does the new system streamline how we describe an employee's duties, but in addition, the Air Force is at the need for skills codes. The new system promises to be more efficient and effective in describing the paramid-fisc- al mount duties and responsibilities needed for pay banding under the National Security Personnel System. Unfortunately, many of the details associated with implementing the personnel system are still being worked out but we will keep the workforce informed as we learn more. Why weren't Information Managers allowed to take the most recent early retirements and when will they be able to? All positions were considered for the Voluntary Early Retirement AuthorityVoluntary Separation In Pay by senior management officials. Some positions were considered critical, and therefore, unavailable for consideration under the VERAVSIP guidelines. Each time we anticipate using the VERAVSIP authority, all positions will be considered under the guidelines of this authority. Will there be another VERAVSIP in coming years? Since we now have permanent VERAVSIP authority, it is a tool that can be used each year if needed. That doesn't mean we will use it each year. Factors such as workyear execution and funding levels are drivers which are evaluated each quarter in determining the best way to manage our payroll dollars and workyears. Efforts are already underway to determine if a VERAVSIP is needed for fiscal 2005. A tentative decision for potential use of this tool should be announced by early September. At what level will Balanced Scorecard be implemented and how will it impact existing Supply Management Activity Group metrics? As mentioned in the recent Commander's Call, an Enterprise Leadership Team was established consisting of a cross section of our senior leadership. This team has identified the various processes, interactions, desired future state and improvement plan for the Ogden ALC. They mapped out the vision for each of five perspectives of a Balanced Scorecard (Warfighter, Stakeholders, Resources, Internal Business Processes, and Learning and Growth) and will use these visions to develop the strategic objectives that will become the heart of the air logistics center or enterprise level Balanced Score-carOnce our strategic objectives are refined, the Enterprise Leadership Team will identify metrics to show if the center is meetthese could be existing our objectives . .. j ' ' M ." r ing or entirely new metrics. Since the scorecard has not been defined to date, it is difficult to assess how the current Supply Management new procedures be for recording time and attendance? And why are we no longer using DELTA? Even though we had many success stories with our Air Force DELTA effort, center senior leadership and I believe we should discontinue collecting activity based costing data until after we are prepared to use it effectively across the center. As stated in last month's Newsletter," the Enterprise Leadership Team is identifying our "value streams" and "top level" processes and will subsequently identify tools to measure our progress towards our strategic objectives. Once those tools are identified, we will reassess whether we need an "Y-N- ot activity based costing system such as DELTA to support our lean transformation initiatives. In the meantime, recording time and attendance will change from using the automated DELTA System to use of Forms 501 or 502. Each pay period attendance, previously approved overtime, and any absences or leave used is recorded on Forms 501 or 502. Once the time-car- d OO-AL- C There are many causes of fainting spells, which fact often creates significant diagnostic challenges. Fainting is most commonly caused by a decrease in blood pressure andor heart rate due to activation of the "vasovagal" reflex. Prolonged standing, especially in hot weather, sudden discomfort and emotional stress may trigger vasovagal faints. d. Activity Group metrics will be affected. After the air logistics center's scorecard is developed lower level balanced scorecards will be developed to map a weapon system's or organization's contribution to the higher level scorecard. Development of the enterprise level Balanced Scorecard will begin within the next few months. With DELTA going away, what will the Syncope is the temporary loss of consciousness, which results in loss of muscle tone. If standing, the fainter falls down - if seated he or she slumps over. Syncope is one of the most common causes for ER visits. Nausea and blurred vision commonly precede such spells. This condition is usually not dangerous. On the other hand, in individuals with history of significant health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease, fainting may be caused by a sudden acceleration or slowing of the heart rate. This may be a warning sign for future fainting spells that may cause serious injury or even sudden death. Fainting spells should not be ignored. Discussing the circumstances of the faint with your physician may be all that is needed in many cases. At other times specialized testing is necessary. With appropriate diagnosis and treatment faints can be prevented. Dr. Iskos is a,cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology at McKay-De- e Hospital Demos Iskos, MD For additional information, contact your physician or call The Heart and Vascular Institute at OO-AL- C is manually certified by both, the employee and the supervisor, the timecard is provided to the timekeeper. The timekeeper will record the data in the Defense Civilian Pay System for payment. McKay-De- e HC Center Hospital m ASmrtaJhrnnrnMimH-kkC- (801)387-776- 9 4 |