Orderly rooms merging for efficiency

Published Jan. 23, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In keeping with Air Force Smart Operations 21, Minot Air Force Base groups are merging commander's supports staffs (orderly rooms) to enhance resource management in support of combat effectiveness.

"By co-locating CSSs, we create 'economies of scale,'" said Major Chad Schrecengost, military personnel flight commander. "Personnelists will continue to provide top-notch service while accounting for needs such as on-the-job and upgrade training; providing back-up for leave, temporary duty assignments, and illness; and, most importantly, deploying to perform our mission in the area of responsibility."

According to Maj. Schrecengost, the personnel community has faced significant authorization and force shaping cuts. These reductions, paired with increased deployment commitments, have reduced day-to-day personnel manning at the base level.

"These new and improved CSSs will showcase increased availability of personnel staff due to pooled resources," he said.

According to Maj. Schrecengost, the 5th Medical Group has historically operated with a colocated CSS. The 5th Operations Group has made the transition, the 5th Mission Support Group is making the transition this month.The 91st Space Wing leadership is currently evaluating the feasibility of co-locating either at the group or wing level.

Co-located CSSs exist Air Force wide and according to Maj. Schrecengost, Minot AFB is building off many lessons learned from other bases.

The organizational structure will depend upon the population to be serviced. Larger groups will require a larger and more experienced CSS staff.

Although in some cases the CSS staffs may have moved to new physical locations, the leadership of these "C2S2s" will continue to be accessible and visible within all squadrons.

The 5th OG C2S2 is located on the second floor of the PRIDE building (near the 5 Operations Support Squadron front office). The 5th MSG C2S2 is temporarily located on the second floor of the PRIDE building as well.

"While CSSs are consolidating to better serve their Airmen, it's important Airmen know that they also have other venues available to them," said Major Schrecengost. "Airmen can log onto the Virtual Military Personnel Flight through the Air Force portal online. If Airmen have problems with VMPF, they can go straight to their C2S2," he said.

Another option for Airmen if they're having difficulties with VMPF is to contact the Air Force Contact Center toll free at 1-800-616-3775, or DSN 665-5000."

Maj. Schrecengost stressed the goal of these help-venues and the CSS mergers is to provide the Airmen with improved customer service and experienced staff that will be better trained and equipped to support unit leadership and assist customers.

"It reflects General [T. Michael] Mosley's challenge in Air Force Strategic Vision 2025: to maintain our spirit of innovation, to challenge precedent, history and convention."