Forum raises ideas for excellence

Published May 1, 2012
By Lt. Col Robert Couse-Baker
349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen, family members and civilian employees at Travis discussed quality of life issues and proposed solutions April 18 during the Caring for People Forum at the Twin Peaks Chapel.

"The Caring for People Forum is an opportunity for Airmen to present issues and concerns to Air Force leaders for resolution," said Maj. Melissa Gould, 60th Medical Operations Squadron suicide prevention officer, Resiliency Element chief and Travis Integrated Delivery System chair.

Col. Richard Williamson, 60th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, opened the forum by urging participants to brainstorm and frankly share ideas.

"Please think outside of the box; everything is on the table," he said. "It takes a team to figure out what we're doing really well, what we need to improve and what we need to stop doing."

Participants met in small groups to discuss issues and suggest solutions, facilitated by leaders from Travis' helping agencies, such as medicine, chapel, force and family support. In turn, Travis' top 10 ideas were presented and voted on by the whole forum.

"The Forum felt like a safe haven," said Airman 1st Class Augustine Thompson-Brown, 60th Medical Operations Squadron mental health technician. "We were able to metaphorically 'remove our rank' and discuss issues as fellow Airmen. I felt as if there was so much support given by each group to the next and everyone's concerns mattered," said Airman 1st Class Augustine Thompson-Brown, a mental health technician with the 60th Medical Operations Squadron.

The concerns and solutions raised at Travis will be elevated to the Air Mobility Command's Caring for People Forum, which will examine concerns raised at all AMC bases. The top 10 of those concerns go forward to the Air Force Community Action Information Board.

"Last year, four of the Air Force's top ten issues were raised at Travis," Gould said. "This year's group also raised tough questions and offered experienced and innovative solutions."

Issues from the 2011 forum now being worked at the Air Force level include: standardization of exceptional family member programs, optimization of medical clearances for families with special needs, reinvigorating the Air Force sponsorship program and expanding the maximum daily hours for child and school age programs.

"Local issues will be examined by the Travis Integrated Delivery System team to identify appropriate organizations or individuals for action," Gould said.

Issues resolved locally last year include increasing spouse awareness of the vital base resources, new key spouse program outreach efforts and improvements to emergency vehicle access on narrow streets. Some local issues were elevated to AMC or are still being worked locally.

Brad Eychner, president of the Travis Officer's Spouses' Club, was impressed by the quality and thoughtfulness of the issues raised.

"A lot of the best ideas in the Air Force come from people down in the trenches," he said.
But it wasn't just the transformative ideas raised in this year's forum that will leave an enduring mark, but also the transformative process itself.

"While it's important for leadership to know what is important to each of these groups, it's even more important to involve these groups," said Chief Master Sgt. Julie Lyn, 60th Medical Group Health Services Management functional manager. "When Airmen and families know their input is being heard and acted upon, it helps with the buy-in and support of the initiatives."

The concept of buy-in and involvement was echoed by many at the forum, including those newest to America's Air Force, such as Thompson-Brown.

"I really appreciated the opportunity to participate in an event such as this," Thompson-Brown said. "I felt as if for the first time, since joining the Air Force, that my opinions as an Airman really mattered when it came to the 'big picture."