AFSO21 just made redeploying easier

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Dan Puckett
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing AFSO21 Office
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Office held a rapid improvement event on the enabler redeployment process from Sept. 17 to 21. Team members included: Capt. Claude Poole, Master Sgt. Daniel Leao, Master Sgt. Roger Dawson, Tech. Sgt. David Dunn, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Nelson, Tech. Sgt. Anthony Mosher, Tech. Sgt. Matthew Simono, Tech. Sgt. Howard Sik, Tech. Sgt. William Kiser and Airman 1st Class Jennifer Vaughan. The team went through an intense week of training, mapping the redeployment process from aircraft land until the last redeployer is back with his/her family. They identified waste in the current process, brainstormed ideas to improve the process and developed a future state of the process. To do this, the team used "LEAN" initiatives designed to eliminate waste in any process. So what did they come up with?
Currently, the entire process takes 21 hours, which includes the next day Airman and Family Readiness Center briefing, and has 19 hours of waiting time. By applying those before mentioned "LEAN" initiatives the team reduced the total process time to less than two-and-a-half hours which equates to an 89 percent decrease. The wait time was reduced to 20 minutes, which equates to a 99 percent decrease.

The team came up with several action items to work. Once complete, the redeployment process will be much easier and faster. First, the actual redeployment line was moved around in building 523 to facilitate a better flow of passengers through the process. Next, the A&FRC brief that happened the next day will now be a handout provided on the redeployment line, outlining times and availability of services and support. There will no longer be a need for an Airman to come in the next day to get the briefing. Finally, the team is looking at using computers on the aircraft along with written guidance and examples so that travel vouchers and family separation forms can be filled out correctly while the redeployer is in the air. This will greatly reduce waiting time and defects while in line and get the redeployer back to their family faster.

So, the next time you're on the redeployment line, take a second to thank all the people working there. They worked hard to make your redeployment easier and to give you more family time after a long grueling deployment.