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AFSO 21 team tackles Fit to Fight processes

  • Published
  • By Eric M. White
  • 910AW/PA
YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio --  Members of the 910th Airlift Wing Participated in a four-day Air Force Smart Operations 21 (AFSO 21) event regarding the currency of Wing members' Fit to Fight tests. The Fit to Fight program tests Air Force Reservists bi-annually or annually to ensure their level of physical fitness meets military requirements. The Fit to Fight test measures a member's abdominal circumference, pushup and sit-up ability and 1.5 mile run time.

Matt Gruse, an exercise physiologist with the 910th Airlift Wing, initiated the AFSO 21 event in an effort to improve the Wing's currency numbers. The goal of the event was to find weaknesses in the process and implement changes to correct those weaknesses.

"I think the group approach was ideal," said Gruse. "I think we came up with some good solutions."

AFSO 21 is an Air Force process-improvement program that combines the best parts of several civilian efficiency plans. The program begins with the mapping of current processes for evaluation of waste and unnecessary work. From there, participants begin to rethink subpar parts of the process, hoping to improve upon overall effectiveness.

Commenting on the success of the event, Gruse said, "Our future state looks promising. We have some subtle changes that can help change our culture and we're streamlining the testing process to cut down the amount of time the member is away from their shop (for fitness testing)."

The team consisted of Senior Master Sgt. Phil Alberti, 910th Maintenance Squadron, Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Watson, 757th Airlift Squadron, Senior Airman Marco Gonzalez, 910th Communications Squadron and Senior Airman Desiree Geer, 910th Operations Support Squadron.

Matt Gruse was the team lead while Major Barbara Shephard, Combat Readiness Flight Commander, and Major Ray Gale, Chief of Process Management, co-facilitated. Mr. Tom Ades, a Six Sigma Black Belt (Lean enterprise concepts professional) from MainStream GS LLC acted as a consultant.
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