Incirlik medical group earns AF best practice

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Air Force officials recently named a financial tracking tool created by a member here as an Air Force best practice.

Serdal Gurses, a budget analyst for the 39th Medical Support Squadron, created the Financial Contracts Management Tracking Tool, which was approved by the Air Force Best Practices Administration in early September.

"I am very happy it has been recognized as a best practice by the higher authorities," Mr. Gurses said. "I have a plethora of other projects that I would like to develop in the near future maintaining one goal: to make processes easier and more user friendly."

An Air Force best practice is a validated and approved superior method or innovative practice that contributes to improved process performance, said Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Clapper, the superintendent for the 39th Force Support Squadron Manpower and Organization section.

Mr. Gurses identified the need for a tracking tool to monitor contract expenditures and call attention to possible opportunities and weaknesses.

In some cases, he said, the medical group missed opportunities to utilize excess funds or fell short on payments because of poor tracking. This resulted in unexpected fees, penalties and lost opportunities.

"I took the initiative to create the contract management tool to rectify the adverse affects of improper tracking, and, most importantly, to ensure the taxpayer dollars were being spent judiciously," he said.

To be defined as an Air Force best practice, a functional or process expert must review the process. The process must show clearly documented superior results when compared to like organizations and must be considered "breakthrough" in efficiency or effectiveness or must be a first of its kind. The process must also be approved by multiple sources, usually experts, who agree it is superior. It must employ the latest applicable approved systems and technology, and customers must report their satisfaction and become loyal, repeat customers.

Mr. Gurses was later nominated for a fiscal 2010 Special Act award by Lt. Col. Lisa Moore, the 39th Medical Support Squadron commander, following his recognition.

In 2009, U.S. Air Forces in Europe submitted 82 best practices for consideration. Fifty were validated and posted in the Air Force Best Practices Clearinghouse Database.

For more information on AF best practices, visit the Air Force Manpower Agency AF best practices Clearinghouse at https://my.af.mil.