1 00:00:01,158 --> 00:00:04,590 (introductory music) 2 00:00:04,590 --> 00:00:07,520 - Team, I want to start by saying thank you. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:09,990 Thank you for all you do each and every day 4 00:00:09,990 --> 00:00:13,390 for Air Force Material Command for our Air Force. 5 00:00:13,390 --> 00:00:15,630 You're a part of the most important Command 6 00:00:15,630 --> 00:00:19,440 in the Air Force to enable the National Defense Strategy. 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,410 It is awesome to watch you execute our important mission. 8 00:00:23,410 --> 00:00:25,260 Today I want to provide an update 9 00:00:25,260 --> 00:00:27,579 on the AFMC We Need initiative I kicked off 10 00:00:27,579 --> 00:00:29,438 after taking command. 11 00:00:29,438 --> 00:00:32,410 As you know, this effort is really focused 12 00:00:32,410 --> 00:00:34,930 on what we need the Command to do in order 13 00:00:34,930 --> 00:00:37,720 to support the National Defense Strategy 14 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:39,920 as we drive to the Air Force we need, 15 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,160 not only today, but also in the future. 16 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,168 Let me start by giving you some feedback that floated 17 00:00:45,168 --> 00:00:48,820 my way before I go into some of the results. 18 00:00:48,820 --> 00:00:51,320 I have heard that I will not be transparent 19 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,420 about the survey results. 20 00:00:53,420 --> 00:00:56,160 There are some survey comments that are so specific 21 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,790 to parts of our enterprise that it would be inappropriate 22 00:00:58,790 --> 00:01:01,121 for me to release, but I will talk about 23 00:01:01,121 --> 00:01:04,180 the broad areas the initiative uncovered. 24 00:01:04,180 --> 00:01:06,600 The other feedback is that I will do nothing 25 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,280 with the survey results. 26 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,360 Hopefully you will understand in a few minutes 27 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:12,460 we are taking steps. 28 00:01:12,460 --> 00:01:13,703 Now for the surveys. 29 00:01:15,050 --> 00:01:18,140 Thank you for the overwhelming support and response. 30 00:01:18,140 --> 00:01:21,430 More than 5000 online surveys were completed, 31 00:01:21,430 --> 00:01:25,130 and our field teams conducted more than 1000 focus groups, 32 00:01:25,130 --> 00:01:30,130 interviewing over 7500 AFMC airmen, uniform and civilian 33 00:01:31,150 --> 00:01:33,920 from all mission areas and at all levels, 34 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,064 from the most junior airmen in our organization 35 00:01:36,064 --> 00:01:38,760 to our most senior leaders. 36 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,180 We also interviewed leaders outside our command 37 00:01:41,180 --> 00:01:44,580 who depend on AFMC to get their mission accomplished. 38 00:01:44,580 --> 00:01:48,050 We have tens of thousands of comments for analysis. 39 00:01:48,050 --> 00:01:50,610 I have personally spent several days reading through your 40 00:01:50,610 --> 00:01:55,090 comments and I truly appreciate the candid and frank inputs. 41 00:01:55,090 --> 00:01:58,540 I believe this shows how much you care about our command 42 00:01:58,540 --> 00:02:01,560 and how we can shape our future together. 43 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,430 However, we are just getting started. 44 00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:07,190 The AFMC We Need team is analyzing the data 45 00:02:07,190 --> 00:02:10,530 and preparing recommendations for my consideration. 46 00:02:10,530 --> 00:02:15,290 Each and every input matters and will be assessed. 47 00:02:15,290 --> 00:02:17,800 Though we are in the early stages of the analysis, 48 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,090 I believe it is important for transparency to share 49 00:02:21,090 --> 00:02:24,480 some of the overarching trends we are seeing. 50 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,050 These are not all-inclusive, and I will go into more 51 00:02:27,050 --> 00:02:29,020 details over time. 52 00:02:29,020 --> 00:02:31,268 As I mentioned during the virtual talent hall, 53 00:02:31,268 --> 00:02:34,796 our two most common areas of comment relate 54 00:02:34,796 --> 00:02:37,940 to the poor quality of our facilities and the lack 55 00:02:37,940 --> 00:02:42,580 of reliability or uptime of our information technology. 56 00:02:42,580 --> 00:02:44,810 While these two areas of concern are almost 57 00:02:44,810 --> 00:02:48,090 universally included in the surveys, they will be 58 00:02:48,090 --> 00:02:51,120 two of the hardest to tackle in a timely manner. 59 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,560 We will develop strategies and communicate more 60 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,070 on our efforts to address these, but I cannot promise 61 00:02:57,070 --> 00:02:59,220 a rapid correction. 62 00:02:59,220 --> 00:03:02,180 Another area receiving a lot of comments focused on 63 00:03:02,180 --> 00:03:04,360 hiring and manpower numbers. 64 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,760 We will be pushing information on the steps 65 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,710 we have taken thus far to reduce hiring and onboarding 66 00:03:09,710 --> 00:03:11,450 process timelines. 67 00:03:11,450 --> 00:03:14,360 We are seeing improvements though we have not 68 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,500 broadly communicated those efforts and the results. 69 00:03:17,500 --> 00:03:20,580 While we are seeing improvements, I acknowledge we still 70 00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:22,960 have more to do in this area. 71 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,570 Another area that is evident from surveys is we must 72 00:03:26,570 --> 00:03:29,070 work on our communication strategy. 73 00:03:29,070 --> 00:03:32,380 We will build a strategy that will clearly communicate 74 00:03:32,380 --> 00:03:36,330 not only across all levels of AFMC, but also 75 00:03:36,330 --> 00:03:38,600 with our external stakeholders. 76 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:41,330 It is crucial that every AFMC airman, 77 00:03:41,330 --> 00:03:44,444 our most valuable resource, understand just how 78 00:03:44,444 --> 00:03:47,437 important our missions are to the Air Force 79 00:03:47,437 --> 00:03:51,675 and how each and every one of us impacts national security 80 00:03:51,675 --> 00:03:56,190 as we execute our wartime mission each and every day. 81 00:03:56,190 --> 00:03:59,570 Communication is key, and how we communicate our mission 82 00:03:59,570 --> 00:04:02,810 to the Air Force and to each other is critical. 83 00:04:02,810 --> 00:04:05,100 There are many other areas to work, but I will 84 00:04:05,100 --> 00:04:08,110 only broadly touch on a few more. 85 00:04:08,110 --> 00:04:10,930 Leadership and supervisor training. 86 00:04:10,930 --> 00:04:12,570 Risk Aversion. 87 00:04:12,570 --> 00:04:14,440 Functional stovepipes. 88 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:17,550 Funding flexibility, and many others. 89 00:04:17,550 --> 00:04:19,550 We may not be able to solve all of these, 90 00:04:19,550 --> 00:04:22,810 but they're areas you have identified. 91 00:04:22,810 --> 00:04:25,120 As I mentioned, these are just a few 92 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:26,856 of the overall comment trends, 93 00:04:26,856 --> 00:04:30,820 and more will emerge as our team continues their analysis. 94 00:04:30,820 --> 00:04:32,490 So what's next? 95 00:04:32,490 --> 00:04:34,200 We are already moving. 96 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,920 We have encouraged our field survey teams to identify 97 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,530 things they believe can be tackled locally to move out. 98 00:04:40,530 --> 00:04:42,610 Don't wait on us. 99 00:04:42,610 --> 00:04:46,230 Also I stood up a new office under Major General Schaefer, 100 00:04:46,230 --> 00:04:49,640 our Deputy Commander, to facilitate and track 101 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,170 the changes across the organization. 102 00:04:52,170 --> 00:04:54,113 They will also help assess the data 103 00:04:54,113 --> 00:04:56,950 and formulate recommendations. 104 00:04:56,950 --> 00:04:59,670 As we roll out these action plans, I will 105 00:04:59,670 --> 00:05:02,200 need your continued support. 106 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,440 I have already gotten feedback from one of our 107 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:08,460 field survey teams who wanted to implement a local change 108 00:05:08,460 --> 00:05:10,910 that they were informed they could no longer be part 109 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:14,480 of the AFMC We Need team, and they could no longer 110 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,723 share ideas with the team or the four-star. 111 00:05:18,730 --> 00:05:22,270 A "no" attitude is not going to support our efforts 112 00:05:22,270 --> 00:05:24,830 to drive to the AFMC We Need. 113 00:05:24,830 --> 00:05:29,760 I expect your help in looking at things differently. 114 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:32,420 Some of the changes we need to make will not 115 00:05:32,420 --> 00:05:35,670 happen overnight, so be patient with me. 116 00:05:35,670 --> 00:05:37,870 As we decide to act on recommendations, 117 00:05:37,870 --> 00:05:40,850 I will let you know what we are tackling. 118 00:05:40,850 --> 00:05:43,735 Again, thank you for all the outstanding support 119 00:05:43,735 --> 00:05:45,430 for this initiative. 120 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:47,720 Our work is only beginning. 121 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:50,500 We are an extremely diverse organization 122 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:53,210 that spans from research and development 123 00:05:53,210 --> 00:05:56,265 to tests, to life cycle management, to sustainment 124 00:05:56,265 --> 00:05:59,690 as well as insulation and mission support. 125 00:05:59,690 --> 00:06:02,800 Each and every AFMC airman is critical 126 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,630 to our ability to achieve success. 127 00:06:05,630 --> 00:06:08,280 We will create an environment that harnesses 128 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:10,395 the power of our most precious resource: 129 00:06:10,395 --> 00:06:11,763 Our airmen. 130 00:06:12,770 --> 00:06:15,390 You have built and sustained the most powerful 131 00:06:15,390 --> 00:06:18,930 Air Force on the planet and will continue to do so. 132 00:06:18,930 --> 00:06:20,987 I'm excited to partner with you to get after 133 00:06:20,987 --> 00:06:24,946 the AFMC We Need to insure our national security today 134 00:06:24,946 --> 00:06:27,950 and for our children's children. 135 00:06:27,950 --> 00:06:29,510 Thank you for all you do. 136 00:06:29,510 --> 00:06:32,477 It is an honor and a privilege to work for you. 137 00:06:32,477 --> 00:06:35,060 (upbeat music)