PBD-720 allows groups to merge precious resources

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Kunsan squadrons are merging their commander's support staff as part of Air Force Smart Operations-21 initiatives to overcome manning cuts directed by Presidential Budget Directive, or PBD-720. 

  Squadrons across the 8th Fighter Wing, under the planned cuts, are merging, and in some cases, have merged their collective information managers and technical support along with personnelists activities to the group level. These mergers streamline processes and standardize customer support. Squadrons and groups have been challenged to find better ways of doing business, according to Staff Sgt. Tiwanda Wilson, 8th Operations Group CSS non-commissioned officer in charge. 

  "(The merger) gives us more continuity and eliminates duplication of work," Sergeant Wilson said. "Before, we would only have one or two personnelists at the squadron, which means the CSS would have to shut down during lunch time. But with several (Airmen), more can be accomplished on the same day." 

  Each group will follow suit with the way the 8th OG has merged. Before the merger, there were headaches for each of the operations group's squadrons. The members were faced with physically moving documents and furniture to their new location as well as transferring three operational squadron programs to just one consolidated organization at the group. Sergeant Wilson admitted there were difficulties to overcome during the merger, but said "we worked through those as a team." 

  "Each squadron managed their programs differently," she said. "At the group, we had to standardize outprocessing, inprocessing and sponsorship packages, just to name a few. By doing this, we standardized (each squadron's processes) to streamline the way we do business." 

  Regardless of the difficulties, each squadron here has persevered. According to Capt. Michael Turpiano, 8th OG executive officer, the operations group's consolidation went "very smooth." 

  "We developed a detailed plan and implemented it," Capt. Turpiano said. "We over came (obstacles) by focusing on the desired end state, that being providing continuous support to the Airmen in the operations group. The group is now better positioned to focus on accomplishing the mission. This saves the group by increasing overall support provided to the warfighter which you can not put a price tag on." 

  Capt. Turpiano added the group has not only persevered, but the 8th OG improved customer service support by increasing hours of operation from a typical squadron's nine-hour service day to 12. The change to operating hours is essential to support operations group Airmen who adjust to work schedules from day to night flying weeks. 

  The combined CSS has taken ownership of most squadron additional duties, pushed down to the squadron's members over the past 10 years. The consolidated CSS allows the operations group's squadrons to do 'less with less' by eliminating the duplication of additional duties. 

  "We've established CSS operating hours Monday through Friday to adapt to either day or night flying schedules," the captain said. "We've done this while fostering an attitude that no one in the group will go without the admin support they need. The operations group's combined CSS is here to support the operations group war fighters with a 'can do' and 'will do' attitude. The professionals in our new CSS take their job seriously and have pride of knowing they are directly supporting the Wolf Pack's mission of Taking the Fight North!"