Forum opens doors for base improvement

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  More than 30 members of Incirlik Air Base participated in a Caring for People Forum June 2 at The Club Complex.

"The Caring for People Forum provides an opportunity for any base member, whether it's a military member, their family member or a civilian employee, to communicate areas that they think can be enhanced on this base for the betterment of the base community," said Capt. Dawn Brock, Caring for People Forum officer of primary responsibility.

For the forum, held much like an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, participants were divided into seven category-specific groups. Each group was guided by a facilitator. Each person brought up issues, and based on feedback given by subject matter experts and discussion among the group, chosen issues were made into action items. Once a group decided on potential action items, they proposed resolutions for each issue.

The seven groups were then made into two larger groups to vote on the action items created by the seven earlier groups, which each chose 10 action items to present to the wing committee.

"We don't always have many avenues to express our concerns with the exception of venting to our colleagues and our friends, and that typically doesn't get us anywhere," said Captain Brock. "This forum allows us to express our emotions, but also put in action and create a way for there to be some sort of outcome. On a small base like this one, we find if one person is having an issue, generally others are experiencing that same issue."

Throughout the event, group commanders and first sergeants visited with each group to hear first-hand the needs and concerns of the base population.

"Nothing gets improved if people just sit and complain about it amongst themselves," said Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Frye, 39th Security Forces Squadron. "Having something like this where leadership is here and hearing our concerns gives us all a chance to make a difference."

"Our leaders' participation shows that there is that support and that their concerns aren't just being heard in this forum, but that they are being addressed." said Captain Brock. "For future events like this, I hope we continue to see command support like we did today because people do like to have their voices heard, and they do like to see the base is working to address their concerns."

Tech. Sgt. Gustavo Miranda, 39th Security Forces Squadron combat arms training and maintenance NCO in charge, from the morale and welfare discussion group, was pleased with every aspect of the forum.

"This went fantastic," he said. "We had all different career fields here. We had Airmen, NCOs and civilians in the discussions together. We had SMEs from across the base explaining why things are the way they are. The facilitators did a good job guiding the discussions and made sure that everybody's points were being heard."

Those issues identified for higher-level resolution will be forwarded to the major command no later than June 10, 2011. At the MAJCOM level, Integrated Delivery Systems members will review the issues received from the installations and forward the top issues to the Air Force Caring for People Forum no later than June 24, 2011. The Air Force Caring for People Forum will be held July 19-21, 2011, in Arlington, Va.

"Today, following this, I will brief the wing committee on the action items as well as their proposed solutions," explained Captain Brock. "After that, they will decide of these action items what can be addressed here and what needs to be forwarded to the MAJCOM level for further action."

The forum concluded with a representative from each group presenting their issues and potential solutions to the group and closing statements by Col. Eric Beene, 39th Air Base Wing commander.

"I would like thank everyone for spending their morning here helping us," said the commander. "We need to have awareness of the issues on this base, so we know what we can do to help make this a better assignment."