Base leadership asks for opinions, suggestions Published April 6, 2006 By Senior Airman Sarah Gregory 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Some Aviano members can expect to see something more interesting than junk mail and Telecom bills in their mailboxes soon. The Air Force and base leadership are interested in knowing what Aviano members need and what they think about community issues. To help them get their opinions heard, the 2006 Community Assessment Survey will be sent to 1,000 randomly selected active duty and Reserve members and their spouses. “All responses are anonymous, so while we will be given feedback from the Air Force, we will not know who said what,” said Lynn Yates, 31st Medical Support Squadron family advocacy outreach manager. “If people have concerns, this is the perfect opportunity to express thoughts, feelings and suggestions. This is their opportunity to be heard.” The 2006 survey for Aviano is sponsored by the Integrated Delivery System Working Group. A notification letter will be sent to the work e-mail address of each selected active duty member and selected spouses will be sent a letter in the mail. “The Integrated Delivery System is the action arm of the Community Action Information Board and has the primary responsibility for providing family services and prevention and education activities related to individual, family and community concerns,” said Maj. Gretchen England, 31st Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health and Wellness Center health promotion manager. When the survey results are in, the IDS will use the comments and suggestions to create an action plan to improve needed areas. To do this, IDS will need as many people as possible to complete the online survey. They hope to get 75 percent of the selected active duty members and 50 percent of spouses to respond. “From the data we get this year, the IDS will develop a specific action plan that will work to improve areas that respondents found lacking in our community,” said Ms. Yates. “The more people who fill out the survey, the more specific we can be in addressing problems.” One of the largest benefits for taking the survey is that the suggestions for change will be coming from those who are directly affected by family and support programs. “The survey comments will also be changes that you, the community, desire, as opposed to what leadership thinks are needed,” said Major England. Another benefit to the climate survey, Ms. Yates said, is that the results will be shared directly with base leadership. “We will have the ability to take concerns all the way to top leadership which will increase the likelihood that real changes and improvements can take place,” said Ms. Yates. Results from previous Air Force Community Assessments have impacted the policies and programs that support families at every level of the Air Force, to include: • Expanding financial counseling programs to members and their families • Developing a user-friendly support network for AF single parents • Setting up marriage support seminars for junior enlisted members and their spouses