Memos provide avenue for immediate AFSO 21 changes

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNEWS) --  Air Force commanders now can implement Air Force Smart Operations 21 changes immediately.

Officials in the office of the secretary of the Air Force recently approved the use of guidance memorandums, giving Headquarters Air Force officials, as well as commanders of the major commands, field operating agencies and direct reporting units authority to change processes and procedures within their scope of responsibility.

Commanders then have 180 days from the date of the memorandum to publish interim changes or rewrite publications reflecting the changes. This gives them the opportunity to further refine processes before changes are formally published.

Additionally, commanders are only required to complete the minimum amount of coordination necessary for guidance memorandums, which may be less extensive than that required for interim changes and rewrites.

"I recognize that there are risks associated with this abbreviated process," wrote William A. Davidson, administrative assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, in a recent memorandum. "But, I expect issuing authorities to use this authority to give immediate effect to process improvements while considering the risks."

Direction in Guidance Memorandums supersedes previously published guidance, and compliance is mandatory. Guidance memorandums will be posted on the e-publishing Web site.

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