AF Climate Survey launches Oct. 1

  • Published
  • By Richard Salomon
  • Air Force Manpower and Innovation Agency Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Air Force leaders at all levels want to know, “How is my organization doing?” The 2003 Air Force Climate Survey begins Oct. 1 to answer this question with the help of Air Force people.

Their participation in the survey is critical, said senior leaders.

“Leadership must be made aware of what’s really going on out there,” said Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche. “By taking a few brief moments to fill out this survey, you can help your leaders understand your concerns and, ultimately, better serve you and our nation’s interests.”

Previous surveys included active-duty airmen and appropriated-fund civilians. This year, the survey also will include the Reserve, Guard, non-appropriated fund civilians and students in a temporary-duty status.

“We want to make sure all members of the Air Force team have an opportunity to participate,” said Lori Marcum, the survey’s team leader. “Leaders at all levels use the Air Force Climate Survey to target areas for improvement. In order to create positive changes within an organization, (leaders) must know where to begin. This survey provides everyone an opportunity to speak out about strengths and areas for improvement in their organization.”

The survey runs through Nov. 23 and can be completed online at http://afclimatesurvey.af.mil anytime during the survey period. The Web address is not dot-mil restricted.

Because Air Force leaders ask for direct and candid feedback, the survey team has taken extraordinary measures to ensure privacy by using advanced information-masking software. Anonymity continues to be a key factor of the survey, officials said.

Results will be released early in 2004, said Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff.

“The U.S. Air Force is the finest in the world, a great place to serve and raise our families. We share a commitment to make it better,” he said.

The 2003 survey will cover 13 factors that measure work experience: job, resources, core values, leadership, supervision, training and development, teamwork, participation and involvement, recognition, unit flexibility, general satisfaction, unit performance outcomes and job enhancement.

Survey participation has climbed from 39 percent in 1997 and 36 percent in 1999 to more than 65 percent of active-duty airmen and civilians in the 2002 survey.

The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., used the data from the 2002 survey as a powerful tool for change. Patrick's leaders created a performance plan called START for “Synchronize actions,” “Trust people,” “All accountable,” “Recognize achievement” and “Tenacious execution.”

The plan emphasized mentoring and individual development. It provided mission focus with clear and measurable goals, according to base officials.

Even though the base scored high in most factors, base leaders wanted to make life at Patrick even better, said Judy Nicholson, START director.

"We knew from the Air Force survey that we could improve in some areas. The work the commanders did reviewing the survey feedback resulted in START,” she said.

The base introduced monthly civilian commanders' calls and created a civilian-oversight-recognition team. Leaders rewrote the rules on the quarterly awards process to focus more on performance than additional duties.

To encourage attendance at commander’s calls, leaders use tickets for rocket launches at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as door prizes.

Brig. Gen. J. Gregory Pavlovich, 45th Space Wing commander, said he continually reviews the survey results to make sure the wing is on the right track.

"START is a direct result of the Air Force survey, so we place a great deal of value on the survey data," he said. "Because of the survey, we've been able to make improvements at all levels.”