AFSO21 working at Pope Published Sept. 28, 2006 By Michael "MAQ" Maquet 43rd Airlift Wing Smart Operations Office POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Have you noticed anything different in the last few months as you work and live at Pope? You should, because big changes are taking place. Since December 2005, Pope has been trying out some new techniques to improve processes on the base. Areas that have been affected are all over the base. One area you might have seen is the medical clinic. Notice a new sign-in procedure that separates the scheduled from non-scheduled appointments? The sign-in computer is gone, replaced by a counter and a window to the records room. All these changes are intended to help patients and health providers increase the speed and accuracy of health care. There's also a new nursing clinic that has increased the quality of patient care. Why are these changes taking place? Because there is a new effort in the Air Force called Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century that is listening to Airman who work processes every day and have the best ideas to make them better. Big changes are happening in other areas, as well. Look for changes in the ID/CAC card issue area in the MPF. Look at the 43rd Airlift Wing and 23rd Fighter Group consolidated tool kit issue areas to see how they have changed the way they control and issue tools to maintenance personnel. Look at the C-130 ISO Dock and how they are inspecting and repairing aircraft. Look at how the 43rd Security Forces Squadron is generating incident reports. Look at the reduction in waiting time when deployments depart Pope. Consider how much less time it takes to submit and process awards and decorations on base. The effects of AFSO21 events can be seen in every group and activity at Pope. All efforts are reducing waste in our day-to-day lives. AFSO21 is NOT trying to get Airmen to work harder and do "more with less." As the Air Force shrinks due to budget cuts and paying for the Global War on Terrorism, AFSO21 will help us do "less with less." The facts are that we will have less manpower in the future, so we must reduce the workload on each Airman by eliminating those things that are not adding value to our missions. AFSO21 will reduce the red tape, wasteful practices, and all those stupid things we have done for years, "because that is the way we have always done them." We no longer can afford to waste our time doing things that do not make sense. So here's your chance. If you have ever thought a process was stupid or a rule was outdated, or there's a better way to do anything, now's your chance to make a suggestion. The Air Force is listening. Get involved, by contacting your group AFSO21 representative or call the wing AFSO21 office at 394-2794. Stop wasting your time.