New wing scheduling system increases training, decreases conflict

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Andria J. Allmond
  • 512th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  In order to help decrease schedule conflicts for Liberty Wing members, the 512th Airlift Wing has put into place a new comprehensive calendar.

If wing members plan to host an event during a unit training assembly here that affects a unit outside of their own group or involves more than one unit, they must coordinate this event through the 512th AW executive officer to have the event added to the official wing calendar.

"Essentially, this was created to generate more uninterrupted time for training during the UTA," said 1st Lt. Jason Lowery, 512th AW interim wing executive officer and official gatekeeper of the newly-developed scheduling system. "With an established and highly-coordinated schedule, the UTA is more controlled. People aren't being pulled away to attend various meetings throughout weekend while they are trying to do their training."

Wing calendar additions must be sent to 512aw.gatekeeper@us.af.mil for approval before the Monday prior to the UTA. The requests must include all necessary information such as purpose of the event, hosting unit, point of contact phone number, units that are impacted and time and location.

"The goal isn't to make things more difficult or micromanage, it's to standardize times for wing-wide events," said Lowery.

Event requests are not official until they are approved by the gatekeeper and posted onto the calendar. The official wing events calendar can be found on the 512th AW Enterprise Information Management site. Wing members can click on each calendar event in order to view pertinent information relating to that calendar item.

For the gatekeeper to effectively deconflict and approve events, all logistics must be arranged prior to submitting requests to the calendar.

"I don't look to make sure that the event itself has been organized. That's the job of the person or people who're hosting the event," said Lowery. "I'm just looking to make sure that there is no controversy with the timing."

According to wing members, there has been a positive outcome from the implementation of the official calendar.

"The calendar has helped us in scheduling our training during the UTA's, while ensuring we're able to attend wing events," said Tech. Sgt. James Steinbrueck, 512th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels operations section chief. "Anything that assists in creating the optimal training environment is a step in the right direction."

Some timeslots on the wing calendar have been pre-set to assist in achieving effective training, while still providing time for members to schedule their happenings. These pre-scheduled events include:

-- Primary time for cross-functional meetings is Saturdays from 8 to11:30 a.m. with the alternate time being Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
-- Retirement and promotion ceremonies will be held during the unit's lunch hour or begin no earlier than 2:30 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday.
-- Unit time for training is Sunday of the UTA from 7 to 11:30 a.m.

To read a policy on the new calendar, click here.

Questions about the wing calendar can be directed to the 512th AW gatekeeper email or by calling (302) 677-5124.