Feedback Fridays is a weekly forum that aims to connect the 502d Air Base Wing with members of the Joint Base San Antonio community. Questions are collected during commander's calls, town hall meetings, and throughout the week. If you have a question or concern, please send an email to RandolphPublicAffairs@us.af.mil using the subject line "Feedback Fridays". Questions will be further researched and published as information becomes available.
Q. With the increased emphasis on fitness, do you think there will be any changes to the enlisted evaluation system to delineate between ‘excellent’, ‘passing’, or ‘does not meet standards’?
A. Thank you for your question. Currently, there are no initiatives to delineate on annual evaluation forms the differences between actual fitness scores. That said, supervisors do have the ability to annotate on the form if an individual is performing Physical Training Leader and/or Unit Fitness Program Manager duties. Supervisors should also annotate when an Airman routinely or significantly fails to adhere to established AF standards. In addition, while no changes to individual physical fitness standards and tests have been announced, the Air Force authorized units to begin testing their assigned Airmen again effective Aug. 9, 2018. This initiative allows unit commanders to have greater oversight of their unit testing program.
Q. Are there plans to increase manpower in the Civil Engineering Squadron to handle the amount of work orders they receive?
A. Unfortunately, we are unable to increase manpower at this time, but we are working on several initiatives to support our workforce. The new Civil Engineering Group is focused on refining the work order intake process to not only accept all work orders but make submission more efficient for all Mission Partners on JBSA. These improvements will include transparency of submission via 502d CEG downloadable application, in development, as well as localized customer service centers at each major operating location. Estimated launch for innovation is early fiscal year 2019. Our people are our greatest strength and CE will continue to aggressively fill vacancies. On Oct. 31, 2018 the wing will be hosting a job fair wherein we will have the opportunity to hire for much needed critical vacancies. This opportunity coupled with continued partnership with the personnel center will enable fill actions to increase in areas such as customer service and operations.
Installation & Facilities
Q. Where and when are new permanent party dorms going to be built?
A. New dormitory analysis is on-going as part of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Dormitory Masterplan. Once the analysis is complete, military construction projects will be programmed, then preliminary siting proposals will be explored. When this occurs, our local JBSA Area Development Plans will be adjusted to accommodate proposed military construction siting locations in the respective unit campus areas. We will continue to keep you informed on the status of any new dorm projects as we gain more information.
Q. Is there a plan to fix child care issues, Child Development Center regulations, and what directives are selectively enforced? Who do we contact, above the CDC directors, if we have issues that need to be fixed?
A. Thank you for bringing your child care concerns to our attention. Quality child care is a top priority in our wing. The seven Child Development Centers across JBSA are operated by the 502d Force Support Squadron, and all are accredited by the Department of Defense and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Based on DoD oversight of military child care, the CDCs are required to adhere to standardized policies, procedures, and guidance. If you as a parent have concerns about the CDC staff being selective in what they enforce, please bring that to the attention of the specific program director on site or please contact the Child and Youth Services Flight Chief at (210) 652-5973 so this can be properly addressed. In addition, if you’re unable to reach the flight chief, you can always send concerns directly to me, and I’ll be sure we address them.
Q. I work in Building 2797, the Military Family Readiness Center. The building is very old and needs a lot of work. What is your plan to update the infrastructure?
A. Thank you for taking the time to provide awareness about the Fort Sam Houston MFRC. Our CE team has good news. The center has been funded for fiscal year 2019 for design and construction of all major building subsystems including HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and additional structural repairs. Our team will be awarding design projects in early fiscal year 2019 and construction will follow later that same fiscal year. Of note, the interior finishes will require a follow-on contract in fiscal year 2020.
Miscellaneous
Q. For Airmen who don’t have a driving license, is it possible to establish a driving course that will teach them how?
A. That is a great question! Currently the 502d LRS is the responsible agency for military driving licenses, but not civilian licenses. We are working with the 502d FSS to partner with Morale Welfare and Recreation initiatives and develop a program that will allow our service members who don’t possess a civilian driver’s license to obtain one.
Q. Is there an end of fiscal year base or wing cookout already scheduled or in the planning phase to involve families?
A. This is a great idea! Our Comptroller Squadron and Contracting Squadron are planning end of year celebrations for our team members, the CPTS planning for Oct. 10 and CONS for Oct. 25. It is very important to recognize their hard work in making this fiscal year a success while keeping this event small enough to meet its intent - taking a break, having fun, and recognizing our people. Thank you to all the organizations and folks making this end of year so successful. We appreciate your hard work!
Q. What is the estimated date we are officially switching from a Civil Engineer Squadron to a Civil Engineer Group? When will signature blocks change?
A. Our CEG officially stood up on Sept. 1, 2018, and signature blocks are effective on that date.
Q. Will there be a ceremony to stand up the new Civil Engineer Group?
A. The 502d CEG as well as the 502d CES, 802 CES and 902 CES activation ceremonies are scheduled for Oct. 25, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Gateway Club on Lackland. Invitations are now being distributed and all are welcome to attend.