RAF MILDENHALL, England -- A senior noncommissioned officer developed an app to streamline the process of how dorm residents submit work order requests at RAF Mildenhall, England.
Master Sgt. Erika Jones, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron airmen dorm leader superintendent, credits her innovation to the support of her team at the Unaccompanied Housing Office.
“My entire staff had input as far as what should go on the app and what it should say,” said Jones. “It was a team effort.”
The app provides Airmen living in the dorms a more efficient process for requesting repairs on damaged items in their room. Instead of making the request at the Unaccompanied Housing Office, they can now do so from their phone.
“It’s made it easier for them to report work orders,” said Jones. “They can literally be sitting in their room and don’t have to wait until our office is open.”
The app allows users options to contact airmen dorm leaders and to reference dormitory housing guidelines.
“It provides Airmen the ability to contact their ADL staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” described Jones. “It has the dorm resident guide in there as well, so if they have any questions about what type of appliances they can have in their room or if they can have pets, they can refer to it right there on their phone.”
Airmen have begun to utilize the app since its release in October. On the first day the app went live, six requests were submitted.
“The dorm app is easier than physically submitting work order requests at the Unaccompanied Housing Office,” said Airman Shlecia Hooks, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management apprentice. “I can submit issues at any time, and I don’t have to leave my dorm room. My favorite part about the app is that I can attach pictures that show exactly what the problem is in my dorm if I can’t quite put it into words.”
Jones said she encourages others to realize improvements in their work centers and not be afraid to propose innovative solutions to problems.
“Make use of the technology we have at hand,” said Jones. “Don’t be afraid to use those technologies to make things better for your Airmen.