AFSO21: Open to suggestions; helping make life better for Airmen Published Sept. 14, 2007 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Do you have an idea that will improve a process here at RAF Mildenhall? Suggestions that will help reduce wait time, eliminate waste or add efficiency? If so, the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century (AFSO21) office now has a formal suggestion program, open to everyone, which can put your suggestions into action. All of us hate waiting, inefficiency and waste. Sitting around and waiting for work, sitting in the waiting room, going back and forth to get the required documents, etc. It lowers morale, decreases our mission effectiveness and job satisfaction and is down right frustrating. Who knew that when Master Sgt. Kevin Taggerty, 100th Mission Support Squadron, suggested getting rid of vehicle FOD checks on the flight line, that it would save 6,000 hours of wasted time and frustration per year for Airmen across the wing? When Staff Sgt. Cluckey, 100th Security Forces Squadron, knew there was a problem with the Large Vehicle Inspection Station, he sought out the AFSO21 office. His personnel's work has been cut in half, long queues are no longer and all that queue and inspection time has been returned to the personnel and the base. When Lt. Col. Dave Snyder, 501st Combat Support Wing Staff Judge Advocate, suggested that passport photos be taken at the passport office, instead of the multimedia center, how could he know that he would be successful in saving driving miles and time for every Airman and their families who receive an official passport? Your ideas are heard and can make a difference, and the suggestion program provides the opportunity to share them and help improve your working life, increase mission effectiveness and efficiency and improve the life of our team and families. Your ideas will have the direct ear of the wing commander! People are invited to submit suggestions by e-mail, to 100 ARW.AFSO21@mildenhall.af.mil. All suggestions will then be analyzed by Lt. Col. Larry Walker, 100th Air Refueling Wing AFSO21 director. Colonel Walker then makes sure they are sent to the right commander and follows up on their status. Also, Col. Eden J. Murrie, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, reviews the status of the suggestions every week. The program is open to everyone - active duty members, civilians (Ministry of Defence and Department of Defense), spouses and visitors. "Anyone can ask, 'Why?'" said Colonel Walker. "It dovetails with Col. (Michael S.) Stough's (former 100th ARW commander) 'Year of Why.'" An AFSO21 representative can be found in every group and almost every squadron who are also willing to take your suggestions and then forward them to the wing. Unlike the Idea Program, where a detailed solution and financial analysis is required with a submission, AFSO21 suggestions are easy to submit, and no supervisor approval is required. You don't even have to have a solution, just a problem where you see waste. "I read every suggestion and respond to them all," said Colonel Walker. "We welcome solutions, of course, but people can just send in their suggestions and say, 'why don't we do this?' Every positive change starts with someone asking 'Why?' Colonel Murrie and the rest of the Wing are relying on the 'people who turn the wrenches' to come up with good ideas and then their leadership to listen and analyze those good ideas." Look out for posters that will soon be appearing around RAF Mildenhall advertising the AFSO21 suggestion program to "think outside the box." Our phones and e-mail are waiting for your good ideas to make a positive impact on our lives. For more information, call either Capt. Tharon Sperry at 238-7131 or Colonel Walker at 238-7132, or e-mail 100 ARW.AFSO21@mildenhall.af.mil.