FIP Road Show updates Malmstrom Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Joshua Smoot
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
Officials from the 20th Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command held eight town hall meetings at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, July 9 to 11, as part of the Force Improvement Program Road Show to discuss what some of the units at Malmstrom can expect in the near future.

"The FIP Road Show is an opportunity for those of us who are working on FIP on a daily basis to come back and give an update to the folks at the wings, answer any questions on where we stand on certain FIP initiatives and give them some information of what might be coming," said Bart Beisner, 20th AF representative. "Overall it's to make sure the field has up-to-date information on FIP."

FIP was designed to reach junior Airmen who conduct the mission day-to-day to identify the challenges in their mission areas and develop recommended solutions with a direct line of communication to the AFGSC commander.

This year, the Air Force has provided $50 million and 741 funded billets to address Airmen's concerns.

Some FIP objectives include; creating a culture of trusted communication, developing effective leaders of the future, eliminating obstacles to effective mission accomplishment and identifying resource gaps that detract from our mission or quality of life.

To recap what the FIP has implemented so far, the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Operations groups will be starting "Block 0" of the 3+3 crew tour construct implementation which began July 1 at the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB. Airmen from the 90th MW from F.E. Warren and the 341st MW from Malmstrom will go to Minot to assist in the implementation. This construct is designed to help missileers increase experience and proficiency across the missile operations groups.

Maintenance groups will be receiving $1.4 million to purchase ICBM weapon system parts and $2 million to repair bridges and re-gravel roads in the field. AFGSC will also be adding 48 nuclear weapon maintenance and 24 supply billets at the wings effective Oct. 1.

Security forces groups will be receiving $20 million to develop and field a nuclear convoy command and control system. This will help convoy personnel communicate with federal and local authorities, missile field sites and support base for safe and secure operations.

Mission support groups will have the Personnel Reliability Program "orange sheet" replaced with a simple questionnaire to help streamline the process. The current process discourages personnel from seeking off-base medical care and adds unnecessary work for certifying officials, PRP monitors and medical authorities.

"The FIP Road Show came to town to ensure every Airman understands the associated initiatives and to collect additional recommendations," said Col. Tom Wilcox, 341st MW commander. "The FIP approach is culturally a shift in how we do business. Continuous feedback and improvement recommendations keep us moving forward and attacking enterprise problem areas. FIP is a continuous process, not a single initiative.