AFSO 21 needs everyone's help to work

  • Published
  • By Col. Tom Sharpy
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander
Have you ever thought your processes seemed redundant or unnecessary? Have you ever felt like your time was being wasted following procedures, when you have a better, more efficient way to complete the task?

Our Air Force leadership recognizes that time and money are being wasted and both could be better utilized if we could find a more efficient way of operating.

Over the last couple of months you have probably read articles or attended commander's calls about Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century and what it is doing for our Air Force.

AFSO 21 is the Air Force's new way of thinking. AFSO 21 allows us to inexpensively shape change in the Air Force by reducing waste, while adding value to its business processes.

To help eliminate waste and work in a more efficient, smarter environment, we need everyone's help, from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force to our newest airman basic.

The commander of Air Mobility Command, Gen. Duncan McNabb, reminds us that although we are the world's best at what we do, we owe it to our nation to continue to get better...both in effectiveness and efficiency.

He says, "AFSO 21 will help us with both. I look forward to working with you to make this thinking part of our command culture."

We at Travis are on our way to fulfilling this Air Force vision and attempting to change our culture. I am proud to chair the Wing's Executive Steering Committee, which has been meeting weekly to set Travis on the path to success.

The wing has recently formed an AFSO 21 office to help orchestrate training and LEAN events, which is a process improvement concept that focuses on eliminating unnecessary steps in a project. Three of these events are planned for within the next six weeks and will involve Airmen and civilians from across our wing. We are asking everybody to think outside the box and show how they can eliminate waste while identifying the barriers stopping them from working smarter not harder (i.e. regulations or policies).

Barriers should not put a hold on your ideas--we can apply for a waiver to the Air Force Instruction if necessary.

One LEAN event that has affected the entire Department of Defense is the Aerial Port Expeditor program.
Now, our Team Travis port professionals can on- and off-load all types of cargo without the help or direction of the crew.

This has translated to a reduction in departure time of 15 percent for C-5s and 18 percent for C-17s. Also, we can now safely increase the duty and rest cycle for the aircrews.

Team Travis has created a true NASCAR "Pit-Stop" cargo integrated team that adds velocity to our mobility machine.

Kudos to the 60th Aerial Port Squadron for their ingenuity and out-of-the-box thought process!

AFSO 21 will benefit everyone working at this base as well as our customers--the American public, but everyone's buy-in is necessary to make it successful. I encourage each Airman to begin their participation in AFSO 21 by better understanding their work and the results achieved through it.

Look for improvement opportunities that address quality, cost, delivery and safety and then communicate them to your supervisor.

BE PROUD! BE SAFE!