AFSO 21: 95th MDG maps out new training plan Published March 16, 2010 By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Airmen from the 95th Medical Group took part in a rapid improvement event March 9 through 11, as part of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. AFSO 21 is a program that improves processes by bringing teams together to problem solve; eliminating waste and increase value to the customers. "AFSO 21 is a process that looks at the non-value added portions of a process to try to create quicker, better and more efficient ways to do business," said Master Sgt. Jenny Bangay, 95th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health flight chief. "Today we were looking at ancillary and readiness training for the 95th MDG. This also included readiness skills and disaster team training for all of the medics." In the past, the 95th MDG did a few hours of training weekly; however, by using the AFSO 21 principles, an entire month's training can now be accomplished in a day. "We standardized the entire training operation within the (95th MDG)," said Thomas Cope, 95th MDG unit training manager. "We were looking to incorporate everything into one useable tool, so we can better manage training." Although the initiative changed the 95th MDG's training schedule, it did not change the amount or type of training each Airman received. "The training itself is still going to be done the same way, with the same procedures," said Mr. Cope. "Our key objective here is scheduling it so we can be more efficient at getting everybody trained on all the topics. The actual training will not change, but we've been able to encompass it all into a calendar schedule." Sergeant Bangay said the model they have made for a training schedule could be duplicated by any other unit across the base, looking for a way to manage the new training day or for other units elsewhere to consolidate training. "Once the categories have been determined, it's easy enough to apply to any unit because they all have wartime skills and ancillary training that's required, so they can just substitute our training topics for theirs,"said Sergeant Bangay. After receiving the presentation of the new plan from the team who created the process, Col. Janet Taylor, 95th MDG commander, said she was pleased with the plan and said it will offer a great opportunity for every 95th MDG Airmen to receive training. "Our focus is to make sure we can deliver the best product to our base population," said Colonel Taylor. "The only way we can do that is by looking at processes and streamlining to lean out all the non-value added steps that don't contribute to our mission, and AFSO 21 is one way of doing that."