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Show Hill INSIDE: AFB, Utah www.hilitoptimes.com hilltop.paQhill.af.mil Vol. 58 No. 24, June 20, 2002 84056-582- 4 S3 Inspection studies operations in detai by Gary Boyla Hilltop Times staff Members of Air Force Material Command's Maintenance Standardization Evaluation Program Inspector General team are arriving at Hill AFB for their annual inspection of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. The IG team arrived Wednesday and will begin inspections on Monday. The MSEP Inspection is like a report card on how Ogden ALC is performing in the quality arena," said Jim Schroader, Logistics Quality Division chief. "It's something we can show our customers and competimethtors. We have put quality and ods in our processes and as a payoff, we are producing quality products and services. The results are in each employee's pride in workmanship. "MSEP helps people to focus on job quality. Do they have the right tools, training, and current technical idea data to perform the task? It's a whose goal is to increase our quality awareness in every o back-to-basi- back-to-basi- Page 2 going on in our work areas and validating that policies and procedures are being followed. The IG team is digging deeper into our processes. That can be as easy as opening up your tool box for inspection or going into detailed records of the whole process." The first MSEP evaluation earned Ogden ALC a compliant rating, last year's inspection was 98 percent, showing the significant improvements made by the ALC. This year with the IG team looking closer at our processes, and in more areas, the chances for finding more discrepancies increases exponentially, according to Schroader and Iampaugh. "We're ready and I see this as an opportunity to show the Command what we're all very proud of here (Ogden ALC Commander Maj.) Gen. (Scott) Bergren told us he's proud of the work our people do and believes in the quality of products they produce," said Schroader. "We're paying attention to the details and improving each day." The results from the inspection will be announced before the team leaves July 2. task we perform. The dividends we realize are a safe working emironment, kss rework, streamlined processes, and customers that are happy with the assets we produce Schroader said. This will be the third MSEP Inspection for Ogden ALC and the IG team is expected to look into the operations with more detail than ever before through questions and spot inspections. "In Oklahoma City this year the IG team did a number of task evaluations that were not scheduled. They'd go into an area with the intention of watching a certain 'scheduled' individual doing a task or procedure. While the inspector general watched that scheduled task, an IG team member would turn to another worker, close by, and ask what they were doing and then proceed to review that person's tasks as well," said Dave Lamplugh, Logistics Quality Planning Branch chief. The IG team is not sticking to a set agenda when reviewing tasks; they are going into the areas they are assigned to inspect but also reviewing areas at random. This is giving the IG team a true picture of what is '" Curious cadets ft i 11 i ? Page 3 n'-- Tszins repair wsfsrs C-1- 30 h Page 5 i 0 4 ..) t w yu ' d 0Q t vv -- 11 Photos by Oiry Boyle Junior ROTC student! cam to Hill June 13th to see how the Air Force gets things done. While here, students took part in various activities Including a (Ire rescue simulation, above, and meeting with pilot CapL Brian Haines from the 388th Fighter Wing. See related story and photos, page 2. Pegs 9 iff 1 o ! fires Page 10 I us 1 1 . Base competency impresses senator by Maj. Shawn Mecham Ogden ALC Public Affairs director A higher energy level and a and enthusiastic workforce were a few of Team Hill's attributes noticed by Utah Sen. Robert Bennett during his visit here Monday. The senator received Ogden Air Logistics Center's mission briefing and updates on current Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. He talked with the base's senior d issues affectleadership while discussing relevant ing this important ALC and the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings located here. "Hill AFB is booming and it's gratifying," said Bennett. " I was impressed with the level of competency the troops showed me. Of course, I've always been impressed with their abilities and I'm not surprised, but gratified." Other issues Bennett discussed with base leadership during the visit included partnering initiatives with private industry and infrastructure. and transformation issues were two other key areas affecting today's Air Force. During an open discussion and question and answer period with the troops, the senator fielded questions from civilian and military base employees and noticed that there is more energy among the workforce now as opposed to previous visits '"sill well-inform- two-ter- Li i AY 1 f" ixl n Mtmn piair spring focitall Page 12 i; Reservists vital In Enduring Freedom Page 13 2 Oacrnlsssries tssnsrUSO Page 14 D r. !' I"" (I m liftc y 'r V c I) real-worl- See Bennett, page 4 i Photo by Gary Boyle Utah Senator Robert Bennett, right, met with base officials' and with the troops Monday. "I try to come out to Hill at least once a year and am always Impressed with the professionalism and commitment of the people who work here," said the senator who was accompanied by his Northern Utah Liaison former Ogden Mayor Glenn Mecham, left, and Ogden Air Logistics Center commander Maj. Gen. Scott Bergren. "There is a lot of energy here and focus to meet the challenges that face our nation today In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks and Kill Is a big part of our nation's response." Separation incentive offered to center employees by Tina Lhamon Civilian Personel Division The Voluntary Separation Incentive VSIP II will be opened Program at Hill AFB this summer. VSIP II is a Department of Defense outplacement program whereby up to $25,000 in monetary incentives may be made available to encourage employees in selected occupations to voluntarily separate from their jobs. The objective is to create vacancies at one DoD activity that could be used for the placement of employees who are being RIF separated at a different DoD activity. The VSIP II program was used in 1997 to encourage voluntary separations at Hill AFB in order to place employees who were scheduled for separation from Defense Depot Ogden. The exact number of incentive offer jPOCiRCOPV 1 ings, or which occupations will be targeted this year is not yet known. Those decisions will be based on Hill AFB mission needs, and number and type of occupations RIFd from the Defense Distribution Hill Utah, which is anticipated to transition to contractor service by November. The VSIP II is an automated process that matches the skills of the RIFd employees from DDHU with jobs at Hill AFB. If a match can be made through the use of the DoD Priority Placement Program, the senior Hill AFB employee occupying that series and grade will be offered the incentive package. Seniority within each skill and grade will be ranked by the following prioritized categories: first; by optional retirement eligible employees; then, by early retirement eligible employees; and last would be resignations. Within each category, applicants "f will be further ranked by leave service computation date. The most senior individual in the targeted series and grade could be offered an opportunity to apply in the VSIP II program. The employee would then be given retirement counseling and a computation before committing to the program. Participation in the VSIP II program is limited to employees of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. Tenant organizations of Hill AFB are excluded. Election to participate in the program will make the applicant ineligible for: Registration In the DoD Priority Placement Program. Employer-pai- d th post-separati- group health insurance option available to involuntary separated employ- ees. The employee may retain any coverage they would normally be entitled If 1 to as a retiree. State unemployment Any other offers of separation pay and payment of an incentive shall not be included in the computation of any other type of benefits. If separation incentive pay is received, the employee is prohibited from reemployment within the Department of Defense for 12 months from the date the separation pay will be received. The employee won't be allowed anywhere else within the Federal Government for five years after separation unless he fully repays the amount of the separation pay. This includes any amount withheld by state and federal taxes. For more information on VSIP, call Tina Lhamon at Ext. For retirement information, call Carolyn Bron-so- n at Ext. ) |