Air Force announces team-excellence awards Published Sept. 27, 2007 By Richard Salomon Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Five teams have been recently selected for the 2007 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during a Sept. 25 ceremony in Washington, D.C. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, recognized the teams for their use of a systematic approach to enhance mission capability, improve operational performance and create sustained results. "Our people working together to improve processes makes the Air Force a more effective organization," General McNabb said during the ceremony at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington. "The CSTEA teams exhibit pride of ownership and have made the Air Force better. The excellence you have exhibited and the $282 million you have saved in first-year savings alone are helping us position ourselves to win any war in the future. You are the bedrock of the Air Force!" The five 2007 award winners are: -- The KC-10 Extender Thrust Reverser Improvement/Tester Design team from the 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Team members improved the KC-10's thrust reverser system capability by 88 percent. They developed and certified new test equipment that improved safety, cut troubleshooting time by 79 percent and reduced the required number of mechanics from three per task to two. The team also designed a new interactive, digital fault isolation manual that led to a $400,000 a year savings in operating costs. As a result of the team's efforts, Travis AFB earned a mission effectiveness rating of 99 percent for combat sorties during Operation Iraqi Freedom missions and achieved an overall flying execution rate of 95 percent -- the best in Air Mobility Command. This team is also an Air Force Best Practice recipient. -- The C-130E/H Hercules Engine Compressor Wash Hose Cart team from the 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Ark. Team members overcame significant obstacles created by new engine compressor wash-cycle requirements that doubled the frequency of engine wash intervals and reduced the number of available C-130E/H aircraft. To meet the new requirements, the team designed and built an engine wash cart capable of washing all four aircraft engines simultaneously. The team's innovation prevented 84 aircraft tows, avoided the need to ground 18 aircraft, eliminated 252 man-hours and saved the unit $140,000 in direct costs over one year. This new initiative helped the 314th Airlift Wing post a 95 percent on-time aircrew training graduation rate in the first eight months. This team was also recognized as an Air Force Best Practice. -- Operation Team Spirit from the Air National Guard Readiness Center at Tinker AFB, Okla. Team members improved the quality of programmed depot maintenance and exceeded goals outlined in the KC-135 Stratotanker Aircraft Availability Improvement Plan, which was mandated by the Air Force chief of staff. With a goal of increasing aircraft availability by 20 percent over the next five years, the team used "peer-to-peer" teaming methods to produce mission-ready aircraft that have the ability to fly immediately after delivery to the gaining unit. The team's efforts reduced home station acceptance inspections by 75 percent and helped the aircraft transition from a programmed depot maintenance posture to an active flying schedule. This team is also an Air Force Best Practice recipient. -- The Battlefield Airman Clinic and Performance Enhancement team from the 720th Special Tactics Group at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Team members provided Airmen in special tactics training (combat controllers, pararescuemen and special operations weather team members) easy access to medical care, which minimized performance problems and debilitating injuries. The team increased the students access to full medical services that included flight and sports medicine, orthopedics, exercise physiology and more. By embedding medics in specific training programs, the team erased a 15 percent pre-scuba training injury rate. Team members also reduced Water Confidence Course eliminations by having an operational psychologist provide support services for each class. -- The Security Forces In-Lieu-Of Cell team from Headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center at Lackland AFB, Texas. Team members completely reorganized combat training and logistics support at six Army Power Projection Platforms, while serving as the focal point for all Army "in-lieu-of" deployment taskings that support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The team consolidated 80 hours of combat training by embedding instructors at each platform, which reduced training time by 30 days and saved the Department of Defense $22.8 million a year. The team also improved the operational readiness of 3,400 security forces members by designing and deploying a counter-sniper protection system for turret gunners. The 2nd Air Force commander benchmarked the team's processes for 35 career fields that receive similar Army training. The judges also recognized the following teams as Air Force Best Practices: -- The ReserveNet Commander's Dashboard team from the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins AFB, Ga. -- The Back Shop Pull team from the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group at Tinker AFB. -- The 51st Fighter Wing Mission Planning Cell team from the 51st Operations Support Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The CSTEA event provides a "tremendous opportunity to showcase the creativity and ingenuity of our Airmen," said Charles Carpenter, the senior judge. "All the presentations were first class and the competition was keen. I was particularly impressed with the total force nature of the teams." For more information on CSTEA, visit https://www.afma.randolph.af.mil/ and click on "Air Force Awards" under the Performance Management Section. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page