AFSO21: Saving Incirlik money, time since '06

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heather Stanton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Since it's inception in 2006, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century has had a major impact on how tasks are accomplished throughout the Air Force. 

Simply put, AFSO21's purpose is to improve processes by saving time and efficiently using every dollar. 

Incirlik has accomplished more than 15 initiatives since the program's inception, said Pam Chatham, 39th Air Base Wing AFSO21 project manager. The wing plans to examine eight more processes during the next six months. 

Past initiatives include consolidating Right Start and base inprocessing appointments at the Airman and Family Readiness Center; and streamlining the medical right start process by consolidating personal health assessments, gas mask fittings, health-risk assessments and immunizations for all newcomers, including family members, into one mandatory appointment. 

One of the most successful Incirlik AFSO21 initiatives has been the revamping of the base's Tax Assistance Program, according to Ms. Chatham. 

Traditionally, the tax assistance program is run by volunteers who prepare Incirlik member's taxes, said Capt. Shane McCammon, 39 ABW assistant staff judge advocate. In 2006, the 39 ABW judge advocate office discovered that the number of people using the base tax center significantly dropped each year because people began preparing their own taxes using tax preparation computer programs and online resources. 

The AFSO21 initiative resulted in Incirlik's tax center using one such program, MilitaryOneSource.com, which is free to all active-duty members, Department of Defense civilians and their dependents. Airmen can now do their own taxes with assistance from tax-center personnel, drastically reducing costs and man hours for the wing. 

"Since the program started, we have saved more than 3,000 man hours and more than $20,000," said Captain McCammon. "Also, this past year we conducted Internal Revenue Service training for our volunteers through the IRS Web site. This means the government did not have to spend the money to send a returns agent here to conduct training." 

The tax assistance program has been recognized as an Air Force Best Practice and was recommended by United States Air Forces in Europe leaders to be implemented Air Force-wide, said Captain McCammon. 

Incirlik is also looking toward the future for AFSO21 initiatives. 

Upcoming AFSO21 projects include 39th Civil Engineer Squadron building efficiencies; saving fuel within the 39th Security Forces Squadron; and updating the emergency response process within the 39th Medical Operations Squadron, said Ms. Chatham. 

For each of these initiatives, a team will investigate the processes, then make recommendations on streamlining or improving the way each unit accomplishes these missions. While some plans may be approved at the squadron level, others will need command approval. 

Incirlik will showcase its AFSO21 initiatives in an upcoming USAFE Roadshow.