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Formal and informal feedback: I hear you!

  • Published
  • By Col. Michael Hornitschek
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  As promised, it's time to report on some of the feedback I've received from you, both formal and informal. The great thing about feedback is that it helps leadership gauge trends in the climate and attitudes of wing members, and gives us some very candid observations.

First, I'd like to report back to you on the formal feedback that was conducted in May from the Unit Climate Assessment. The UCA is normally conducted every two years and its purpose is to assist commanders at all levels in determining their human relations climate and making improvements when barriers are discovered.

UCAs provide positive and negative factors that may impact unit effectiveness and the unit's human relations environment, and considers six primary areas of focus: Cohesion and Pride, Motivation and Morale, Supervisory Support and Overt Discriminatory Behaviors. Two additional areas were added: Diversity Management as well as local, specific questions developed by the previous commander.

The UCA gives the unit a numerical score and the overall rating for the wing was a "fairly positive" score of 5.8 overall. The highest score is a "very positive" rating of 7.0, with neutral and negative scores at 4.9 and lower. We averaged slightly higher in all areas compared to the average finding throughout the Air Force:

Cohesion and Pride: Wing, 5.7; Air Force, 5.63
Motivation and Morale: Wing, 5.04; Air Force, 5
Supervisory Support: Wing, 5.56; Air Force, 5.55
(Absence of) Perceived Discrimination: Wing, 6.15; Air Force, 6.10
(Absence of) Overt Discriminatory Behavior: Wing, 6.07, Air Force, 5.94
Command EO/EEO Policy: Wing, 6.25, Air Force, 6.22

My take away from this is that we're doing some good things to foster a positive climate, but I believe there is still room for improvement. I'll be working with my team to look at areas that we can focus on during our time together and see how we can make our work and life environments at Scott even better. We have a robust Equal Opportunity staff who are ready to assist all supporting commands in their efforts to improve.

In addition, as I arrived in June and met with many of you during those first few weeks, I requested some informal feedback and asked what you felt were the best and worst things about Scott AFB. As I read through your notes, I saw some strong trends in your observations.

Let's start with the things that stand out as needing the most attention: better fitness facilities, more parking, better customer service and eliminate or rather, improve the process, for assigning taskers! Believe me, I hear you on all fronts! Please know that we are fully aware of everything you've mentioned, and we are aggressively working on them.

For instance, updating the James Gym has been our No. 1 Quality of Life priority, and it is favorable that Capitol Hill will approve $13.2 million for the first phase of upgrades in the next few years. Although it would still be a few years before we see construction, it is being aggressively worked. The parking issue can be solved long term with a new $38 million project for a multi-level parking garage for 1,000 vehicles near the U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command Headquarters buildings. Time and money is still required to make this happen, but it is on our radar. In the short term, there is a parking lot under construction just north of the Commissary building for 200 cars and another planned in the next couple of years behind USTC.

As for better customer service and too many taskings, we're looking more closely at what the common threads are for these issues. We now have a full time director for our AFSO21 efforts, and we will be tackling these issues in the months ahead.

On the positive side, you said you liked the large variety and quality of services and activities available on base and the Quality of Life and family support functions and programs. You also gave a thumbs-up to the overall mission of this base and the feeling that your efforts contribute on a global scale, as well as the enjoyment of working with the many members of our sister services. Also of note, you said the quality and professionalism of wing personnel were outstanding, with the can-do attitudes and esprit de corps.

I could not agree more in the personal observations I have made during these past eight weeks. I see highly capable and energized leadership at this base in the classic look of two layers up and two layers down. I see professional behavior and Air Force standards being upheld. I see an extremely lean wing, where literally every Airman matters to the mission. I also see great relationships everywhere I turn - both between members and organizations here on Scott and also with our community that surrounds us. I see people eager to learn about and execute leadership.

This is just an overview of the discussions I plan to continue with you via my Facebook page. I will post some of the content from the 3x5 cards and go a little more in depth with you there. Hopefully that will encourage further discussion, solutions and better understanding of the many projects that are in the works that will make Scott AFB an even better place to live and work. Just search for my page on Facebook under the heading: 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander.

Thanks to all of you for the hard work you do every day to Enable Combat Power! It is valued and appreciated!