Air Force A1 study at Mildenhall focuses on saving Airmen time

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A team from the Air Force Office of Manpower and Personnel, or A1, visited RAF Mildenhall Aug. 4 to conduct a study on additional duties that could save Airmen time in the future. 

Commanders and senior enlisted leaders from across the base were invited to the town-hall style meeting, the second of 10 planned for multiple bases. 

"We're looking at things like additional duties, ancillary training, information technology and consolidating functions to find ways to save Airmen time," said Mark Doboga, a member of the Senior Executive Service who is leading the visit. "We're also searching for opportunities to implement better business practices that provide leaders time for leadership and mentorship. The town hall sessions with selected groups gives face-to-face direct feedback, to identify what policies and programs can be improved." 

The town hall briefings included examples of programs that could be streamlined to improve efficiency. A top example described how A1 scrubbed a list of 1,767 "additional duties" in March, and they found only 15 to 20 percent of the duties listed can be truly defined as an "additional duty." 

The next step is determining whether the remaining additional duties can be eliminated, consolidated, automated or retained. 

The team has also been tasked with studying ancillary training to make dramatic reductions, consistent with law, policy and common sense. Already implemented, Total Force Awareness Training has reduced 600 minutes of training via 16 courses into three courses of 90 minutes. 

Mr. Doboga is one of six people assigned to the team, and he serves as director of plans and integration for manpower and personnel at Headquarters Air Force. Once finished, the results will be shared with command staffs, functional communities and Air Force senior leaders to affect changes to policies and programs that will institute meaningful solutions for the field. 

"We are at war and (operations) tempo is very high," said Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, who chartered the study. "I've tasked the A1 staff to go on the road to gain the vital perspective necessary to develop viable solutions for the field. 

"A1 has the opportunity to implement positive change for commanders and Airmen by streamlining unit programs and administrative processes thereby enhancing commanders' ability to lead and execute their mission." 

The A1 team is scheduled to visit Spangdahlem and Ramstein air bases in Germany next. The study is scheduled to be complete by September and guidance to be delivered to individual units in October. 

Editor's note: Those who have access to a government computer can also access the additional duties survey located on the Air Force Portal homepage.