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McGuire KC-10 Airmen more efficient warfighters with AFSO 21

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Bekah Phy
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  In a combined effort to increase productivity with more efficient workplace processes, McGuire KC-10 Airmen recently collaborated with the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century team to hold a boom operator training rapid improvement event. 

Overall, Air Mobility Command's goal is to improve productivity of Airmen by 20 percent while working toward a 50 percent increase over three years. The 305th Air Mobility Wing's goal is to develop better-trained KC-10 crew members who are mission ready in 10 percent less time. 

The Boom Operator Field Training Unit Phase II and mission-ready training was open to process improvements, according to the RIE problem statement. Due to a reduction in the number of cargo missions, a training efficiency increase was required. 

"RIE's are key to identifying where we can improve our processes," said Senior Master Sgt. Kristopher Nordstrom, 32nd Air Refueling Squadron boom training RIE facilitator. "With today's environment of reduced manpower and dollars, we must operate more efficiently." 

During the RIE, KC-10 crew members, who are the subject-matter experts, brainstormed ideas to increase efficiency in their section. 

Numerous action items resulted from the RIE, including an improved emphasis on cargo missions, revamping the cargo load trainer equipment and procedures, and combining the synergy of aerial port and field training units, Sergeant Nordstrom said. In addition, new digital training aids and coordination with the Air Force Personnel Center, to ensure students arrive on station ready to begin training, created more opportunities to reduce the training timeline. 

The current phase II boom operator training averaged 161 days with only 35 percent value added. 

"With improved efficiencies, we calculated training could be reduced to 98 days with 71 percent value added," Sergeant Nordstrom said. "Overall, we avoided $200K in manpower cost and 9500 hours in manpower. Our mission-ready warfighters are available 63 days earlier." 

"As well as producing savings, these events (RIE's) demonstrate to Airmen the power of a focused effort to make change very quickly," said Ward Abbett, Mainstream Management consultant and AFSO 21 lead. "There are many opportunities in every group (around McGuire) to make this kind of positive impact for the Air Force and positive quality of life for Airmen."