New employees experience improved civilian welcoming program

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  After a need to improve customer service and boost morale was identified, Air Armament Center personnel implemented an initiative to develop the ideal base in-processing for new employees.

On April 25, the installation's bi-weekly New Civilian On-Boarding program began and will continue every business day that follows a civilian pay period start date. Usually that will be Monday except for a few times that day is a federal holiday.

"We welcomed civilians and helped them understand the significance of their contributions toward national security and the accomplishment of the center's mission," said Col. David Harris, Air Armament Center vice commander.

He administered the Oath of Office to 30 new employees the day the program kicked off.

"Eglin and its associates employ approximately 4,700 civilians, which is half of the Eglin workforce," said Colonel Harris. "Civilians at Eglin play a vital role in ensuring our combat Air Forces have the weapons they need to maintain air dominance."

Colonel Harris is the Co-Champion for the AFSO 21 Rapid Improvement Event that began November 2010 to improve Eglin's process for welcoming new civilians into their workforce.

A hand-picked Eglin team updated the civilian sponsor guide, a new employee supervisor checklist, and a three-day on-boarding program during the event.

A team of personnel representatives, unit personnel liaisons, training managers, newly hired employees, supervisors, education and training specialist, and security managers, established a goal to "deliver a comprehensive civilian on-boarding program, according to Liz Williams of the AAC manpower and personnel force development division.

The team achieved the goal delivering a three-day program, which includes expanded personnel briefings, completion of orientation modules, Eglin agency briefings, and several training requirements.

The Air Force Civilian Pin is awarded at the end of on-boarding in recognition of completing the service's orientation course. According to AAC, this pin serves as a symbol of recognition of the importance of civilian professional development and the contributions civilian employees make to the Air Force.

"The new program will better equip civilian employees to civil service, complete several mandatory training requirements, familiarize them with many of our agencies and services and local policy. Eglin organizations will have reduced in-processing actions and an employee better equipped to begin working," said Ms. Williams.