SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Here is the next round of Q&As from my most recent Commander’s Call.
I posted these responses and previous Q&A to our wing Sharepoint site and our public website, www.scott.af.mil, for future access and review.
Please keep the questions coming!
PERSONNEL ISSUES
I have been here my whole assignment (six years), how do I know if I will get orders soon?
Thank you for your question. Without knowing more specifics such as your career field, whether or not you are on a controlled tour, joint spouse, humanitarian, EFMP assignment, it may be difficult to provide you a detailed answer. I highly recommend you talk to your Squadron Superintendent for assignment specifics related to your career field and how to update your base of preference.
General assignment information can be found within myPers, virtual Military Personnel Flight, and the Enlisted Quarterly Assignments List. EQUAL is the assignment listing which advertises most of the enlisted overseas assignments for Airman Basic through Senior Master Sergeant.
These assignments are advertised and matched eight times a year (four cycles each for those departing to and returning from the overseas area). The listing notifies you what is available by Air Force Specialty Code, grade, and location. It also allows you to align your assignment preferences (you may choose up to eight different preferences for CONUS and Overseas) to actual Air Force needs. EQUAL may be viewed by logging into Secure Apps and clicking on Airman Management System or at your local personnel office.
How can we encourage Combined Federal Campaign volunteer involvement if that time is not allowed to be captured on an EPR?
Great question. We researched AFI 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation System, and found there is guidance on how CFC involvement can be captured in a performance report. Specific to your question, you may absolutely relate level of effort and involvement in CFC; however, you may not reference performance relative to dollar amount collected or goals. Specifically, comments pertaining to meeting/exceeding goals or collected dollar amounts (Example: 100 percent contact, $15K raised, 500 contacted, etc.) are prohibited. However, an approved sample CFC bullet could say, “Hand selected 375 AMW CFC ’16 rep; led 40 key workers—significant impact to charities worldwide.” Please let us know if you have any additional questions regarding capturing CFC volunteer participation in annual performance evaluations.
Why does the Fitness Assessment Cell give the AF Form 4446 (Fitness Assessment) back to the member without calculating a final score? I do not receive notification of UNSAT/failures of the Fitness Assessment unless they put the score on the Form.
We completely understand that fitness scores are critical to a member’s career and unit readiness. In accordance with AFI 36-2905, Fitness Program, the Fitness Assessment Cell Manager must ensure fitness assessment scores are entered into the Air Force Fitness Management System within 5 days by FAC personnel or the designated UFPMs/FAC augmentees.
Scores are not official until they are inputted into AFFMS II. If time permits, the FAC staff will assist with the score calculation immediately after the FA; however, it is still unofficial until it’s entered into AFFMS II, which is the system of record and ensures all calculations are correct. Regarding members signing the AF Form 4446, this is also a requirement in the AFI. The member will acknowledge FA component results (run times/sit-up counts, etc) by signing a hard copy AF Form 4446 following completion of the FA. The member is validating and acknowledging performance, not their score. This precludes any post-test confusion or protests regarding incorrect performance assessment. However, per the AFI, a member’s refusal to sign the scorecard does not invalidate the FA results. If you have any further questions regarding our processes or suggestions for improvement, please contact our FAC NCOIC, SSgt Sanders, 256-4474, 1218, or 4524, or ronnie.sanders.2@us.af.mil.
INSTALLATION & FACILITIES
How long is the remodel of building 1600 going to take?
We're excited about the future renovations for Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Bldg. 1600. As you know, this is an older building with significant infrastructure challenges. We are still in the design phase of the multi-year/multi-million dollar renovation process and anticipate completing the design in 2017. This is a complicated project that will include relocating multiple functions to various locations around the base including relocating personnel to the “old” DISA building which is under renovation right now to accommodate the future moves. We’re also working minimize the number of moves and maintain some capability in the building while it's being renovated. We expect all of the renovations to be complete in Fiscal Year 2023.
There is not enough parking at the Child Development Center. Can we do anything about the people using the track and parking in the CDC parking lot?
The CDC (Bldg 1807) parking lot has two posted signs that state, “Reserved for Bldg 1807 Occupants Only 0600-1800 Mon-Fri.” One sign is posted at the entrance of the parking lot, and the other is at the end of the lot, next to the track.
We will send an email to Unit First Sergeants and Unit Fitness Program Managers, asking them to remind their personnel not to park in the CDC parking lot during the posted timeframes. In addition, we will remind personnel there is parking available behind the Dining Facility.
We’ll also highlight that the wing has funded the expansion of the James Gym parking lot to provide additional parking for gym and track patrons. We will continue to monitor this issue and take additional steps as necessary. Thanks so much for helping us to keep children safe!
MISCELLANEOUS
I was told that I could not breastfeed my child in public on base. Is that true? What is the base policy on breastfeeding?
Thank you for bringing this very important question to my attention. The Air Force recognizes the optimal health benefits for both the mother and infant provided by breastfeeding and even authorizes accommodations for active duty mothers who are breastfeeding or pumping. While there is no specific base policy regarding breastfeeding in public spaces, we certainly make every effort to accommodate specific requests and, under Illinois law, there is no requirement that a mother must breastfeed in private.