Officials provide Virtual Uniform Board update Published March 19, 2008 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials recently announced the new Virtual Uniform Board, which transforms the Air Force Uniform Board process by providing a streamlined tool for submitting recommendations to improve dress and personal appearance standards. Recommendations will be initiated in accordance with AFI 38-401, The Air Force Innovative Development Through Employee Awareness (IDEA) Program. The IDEAs will remain automated from the time they are submitted until the chief of staff of the Air Force takes final action. Ruth Ewalt, the Air Force uniform policy and programs chief, acts as an advisor to the board. She ensures the uniform board process seamlessly transitions Airmen's IDEAs to a final decision from the chief of staff. Here are highlights of a recent interview with Ms. Ewalt: Why change a program that already exists? Today, technology plays vital roles in our lives; subsequently, we have fewer people, yet we demand much more from them. To that end, automating this process allows board members and advisors the latitude of providing inputs without disrupting everyone's normal work schedule. They can schedule convenient times and access the board in multiple sessions to review inputs. Electronic inputs also provide board members identical information that is not reliant upon handwritten notes or interpretation required during verbal dialogue. How will the VUB handle duplicate submissions? They will be eliminated during review by specialists at the Air Force Manpower Agency, the organization that manages the IDEA program. This step alone reduces the manpower requirements of the board process by more than 75 percent and significantly streamlines the process. In the past it was a laborious and repetitive process at base, MAJCOM and ultimately Air Staff level to consolidate and eliminate duplicate inputs. Eliminating them at the onset is much more efficient. What if my IDEA is disapproved and I don't agree with the rationale? You can gather additional information or justification and resubmit your IDEA for consideration. Has the VUB changed your role on the Air Force Uniform Board? No, but it has enhanced it. As one of many advisors, our inputs now will be captured in writing from our own offices versus verbally in a board room. This allows us access to relevant files and historical data to research the issues and provide board members well thought out, substantive responses. How do you feel the VUB will impact the Air Force? Programmatically, I see it speeding up the uniform board process and saving thousands of travel and lodging dollars. Also, looking beyond our uniform program, I see it as an application that could potentially change the paradigm of how the Air Force conducts other boards in the future. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page