JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
While they may not be repairing fighter jets with shoestrings and chewing gum, Airmen across the globe are making a total-force effort to find ways to accomplish their missions with limited resources. These uniformed and civilian MacGyvers-of-sorts have their work cut out for them, as the Air Force must trim about $11 billion in the last half of this fiscal year while maintaining air superiority at home and abroad.
Innovation is alive at the Andrews West Fitness Center as the Airmen there roll out a new program that saves money while continuing to offer top-notch service to their patrons.
"We have a new service from Fitness on Request known as the 'Kiosk,'" said 2nd Lt. David Smith,
11th Force Support Squadron officer in charge of sustainment services. "The Kiosk is located in our West Fitness Center aerobics room and is programmed to automatically play fitness classes on a projector screen at different times during the day for authorized patrons."
The Air Force used to spend more than $1.5M on contracts with instructors to lead classes like Zumba, Pilates, yoga and cardio kick boxing - money now needed to for operational purposes. Rather than cancel these services or make a quick-fix out of duct tape and paperclips, officials at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, replaced them with the Kiosks, which are predicted to save more than $7M over the next six years.
"The Kiosks are being implemented at more than 60 bases, allowing fitness centers an alternative to offering group exercise classes and relieve pressure from budgetary constraints," said Smith. "We will update the classes offered every quarter to give patrons a wide range of cardio opportunities."
The Kiosk classes are open to walk-in gym-goers and units may also reserve times to conduct group PT, according to Smith. Schedules are posted on the fitness center's
Facebook page under the "about" section.
Air Force leaders are searching for ideas like the kiosk program in order to combat the funding challenges. The Every Dollar Counts Campaign is every Airman's opportunity to employ their creativity to lessen the symptoms.
Airmen, both uniformed and civilian, can visit the
Airmen Powered by Innovation website to submit their ideas until June 1. This month-long surge isn't the end of the program, as the Air Force changes its culture of spending.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer is leading this charge and says Airmen at the front end of our business are in the best position to find creative and better ways to do the mission.
"When things get tough, Airmen figure out a way to get it done," Spencer said. "We have some of the most innovative folks in the world, so I know there are ideas about how we can do things better."
Many money-saving ideas like the Kiosk program which streamline processes and refocus spending toward more urgent areas are already making Team Andrews, and the Air Force as a whole, more efficient as fiscal concerns mount.
"Innovation is what we're all about," Spencer said. "This is our family and we're going to get through this because we've got great Airmen to help see us through this."