Page 2 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 10-23-15

Desert Wings Commentary October 23, 2015

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Innovation: Never stop improving

Commander daily lives. The Air Force has been innovating since we were in compliance with the law and Air Force instructions. You will
Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station born from the Army Air Corps 68 years ago, and we keep in- EHDEOHWR¿QGPRUHZD\VWRLPSURYHZLWKLQ\RXURZQZRUN
novating, at all levels. center than the pharmacy.
“Another article on innovation?” you say. I don’t have to tell
you that there are more challenges across the Air Force than any This year, the Air Force is innovating by consolidating mis- Second, challenge the way it’s always been done. There may
time that I can recall: manning reductions, reduced budgets, sion support under the Air Force Installation and Mission Sup- be a valid reason that put into place the instructions, procedures,
infrastructure we can no longer afford, new requirements; re- port Center. Major commands are innovating by consolidating tech order, manual or Air Force instruction to do things a certain
sponse to advanced cyber threats, and the cherry on top, seques- VWDIIIXQFWLRQVZLQJVDUH¿QGLQJLQQRYDWLYHZD\VWRSULRULWL]H way, but there is probably a better way.
tration. As a result, our leaders navigate the Air Force through missions and resources. At the unit level, each of us can be
and around the turbulent air these challenges create. However, innovative in the areas within our span of control. A civil engi- Third, run innovative ideas past your coworkers, supervisors
maintaining the best Air Force on the planet, through these chal- neering squadron might develop processes for leveraging infra- RUOHDGHUVDQGEHQH¿WIURPWKHLUH[SHULHQFH7KH\FDQKHOS
lenges, isn’t solely the job of our leaders, nor is it a one-time red imaging technology to reduce the number or frequency of UH¿QHDQGLPSURYHXSRQ\RXUSURSRVDO
thing. We must continually innovate. hands-on inspections, disassembly and reassembly they would
have done in the past. Maintenance squadrons are leveraging Fourth, there are various ways to put innovation in place. An
The Air Force is renowned for innovation. There are histori- technology for electronic technical orders. Logistics readiness Air Force Technical Order Form 22 can improve a tech order
cal markers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, where squadrons have streamlined supply and deployment processing. or exceptions to manuals and instructions are possible.
WKH:ULJKWVLQQRYDWHGÀLJKWFRQWUROV$WWKHHQGRIWKHODVW However, none of us should settle on these things or ever think
century, the Air Force developed technology that made air- there are no more improvements to be made. Over the last few years, our wing successfully used a wing-
craft virtually invisible to radar. Your Air Force developed and developed Requirements Assessment and Compliance Tool and
maintains global precision navigation and timing that not only Effective innovation starts in the areas you know and can achieved nearly $500 million in cost savings and avoidance,
assures the accuracy of weapons and maintains the ability of control. For example, all of us may have a good idea on how to mitigated more than 200 manpower billet cuts and shortfalls,
networked computers to communicate, but has permeated our shorten the wait at the pharmacy, but only those in the medical and advocated for and received more than $300 million in fund-
¿HOGXQGHUVWDQGDOOWKDWKDVWRJRLQWR¿OOLQJ\RXUSUHVFULSWLRQ ing. The program was highlighted as the best by secretary of
the Air Force, SecAF/Headquarters Air Force organizations,

See INNOVATION, Page 4

Feedback is essential to Air Force integrity

by Lt. Col. John Hansen or requesting information; they were hand- through the coordination process for mem- they may even take it personally.
Ramstein AB, Germany written letters that showed he took the time bers’ enlisted performance reports. In addi- Consequently, it is vital to take the time
to sit down at his desk and write them long- tion to taking the time to complete the form,
,ZDVJRLQJWKURXJKVRPHROG¿OHVDQG, hand, with the singular purpose of providing I sat down with each individual and provided to prepare the exact message you want to
found a few notes that were written to me positive feedback from one professional to feedback, in terms of improvements to be convey and the most appropriate method in
by the comptroller of a major command on another. made and behavior to sustain. which to deliver it. A simple sentence may
several different occasions. resound with your ratee long after your feed-
As I am also in the middle of performing It is not necessarily easy to provide honest back session, with positive or negative im-
One letter conveyed his best wishes on my midterm feedback sessions, they reminded IHHGEDFN2EYLRXVGH¿FLHQFLHVFDQEHHDV\WR pacts lasting years or even throughout that
birthday. A second one thanked me and my me I should take a great deal of time to care- identify and communicate, but it can be dif- member’s entire career.
unit for our hospitality during his recent visit fully prepare the Airman Comprehensive ¿FXOWWRFRPHXSZLWKDUHDVRILPSURYHPHQW
to the base. These letters reminded me how Assessment (ACA) feedback worksheet, Air for your unit’s outstanding performers. How- Moreover, feedback should not be one-
important it is to maintain constant commu- Force Form 724. ever, it can and must be done, as everyone has directional. Subordinates and peers need to
nication at all levels. room for improvement. engage in a constant, fact-based cross-feed
7KH$LU)RUFHVSHFL¿FDOO\GHVLJQHGWKLV with one another. If your organization has a
The letters also reminded me of the lost new feedback form in order to better facilitate You must be deliberate and judicious when disruptive person, his or her peers have the
art of written communication. These were a dialogue between a member and supervisor. giving feedback to your ratees. Most people
not short emails tasking me with a suspense take feedback given to them seriously, and See FEEDBACK, Page 4
In fact, this form will need to be routed

Commander’s

Action Line

email: speak2cc@edwards.af.mil

The Commander’s Action Line gives all Airmen, re-
tirees, families and community members a direct link to
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander.
The Action Line can be used to express constructive
points of view on the policies and procedures of the
base; discuss safety and security issues; and address
problems, concerns, or suggestions after traditional
methods have been exhausted.

The Commander’s Action Line should not be the
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RIFRPPDQGDQGWDNHXSWKHPDWWHUZLWKWKHRI¿FHRI
SULPDU\UHVSRQVLELOLW\VXSHUYLVRUV¿UVWVHUJHDQWVRU
commanders.

Action Line queries may be submitted by sending an
e-mail to speak2cc@edwards.af.mil with Commander’s
Action Line as the subject heading or by calling (661)
277-7325. Action Line submissions must be written in
a courteous and professional tone, and must include a
name, an e-mail address or an alternative method of
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Any messages received without contact information will
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