Basewide award structure receives rapid improvement Published Aug. 13, 2008 By Airman 1st Class William O'Brien 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Representatives from across the base came together to create a new basewide awards and recognition instruction Aug. 4 through 7. The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Rapid Improvement Event was a four-day process designed to create a new, more effective basewide awards and recognition program. "The current awards process is inefficient, unorganized, and in some cases nonexistent," said Senior Master Sgt. Eric Light, 412th Maintenance Group first sergeant. "This new process will help everyone to get the recognition they deserve." To begin the process, the ways in which award packages were submitted and the ways in which recognition was given and award packages were evaluated. The RIE team then created a standard process for awards and recognition. "From the different awards and recognition processes, we incorporated things we liked from each of them into this system," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Deluze, Air Force Flight Test Center command and staff superintendent. Currently, each wing has their own awards process, we standardized the instructions, process, score sheet and the awards packages. Through the RIE, award ceremonies for the 95th Air Base Wing, 412th Test Wing and AFFTC will be held at one basewide award ceremony with all award winners recognized. "We've made many positive changes to the process," said Jennifer Bundy, 412th Test wing awards and training manager. "We accomplished what we came to do, and that's ensuring basewide recognition to the people who deserve it." As part of the new system, annual awards finalists will face a board. Time on station requirements have been added to the new awards and recognition instruction. The team also standardized a basewide acceptable acronyms list. "These additions have made the awards process smoother and more efficient," said Sergeant Deluze. "This provides basewide uniformity to the process and will make it possible for basewide awards to be given." The new submission process was made more efficient by removing unnecessary steps from the process. "We've eliminated more than 30 unnecessary steps," said Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Hollis,95th Mission Support Group superintendent. "This cuts down the man-hours required to recognize the winners for their accomplishments, and it's also helping us to recognize everyone. This new process is a winning situation for everyone." Unifying the base's awards program all the time and man-hours each wing had to put into the process is consolidated, saving time and money. "By making the awards process universal it will ensure that everyone from every unit gets equal recognition for winning awards," said Sergeant Deluze.