Before I get down to business and shine some light on the direction the Team Hill-Junior Force Council (TH-JFC) will be heading this year, I would like to introduce our newly elected officers for 2012. Each of our very talented officers is driven to improve the working environment at Hill Air Force Base. So, without further ado, the vice president is Jennica Semon, a management analyst in the 75th Air Base Wing; treasurer is Jimmy Davis, a contract negotiator in PK; public affairs manager is Jen Tiede, a logistics management specialist for the Taiwan F-16 Program Office; newsletter manager is James Vaughan, a small business specialist in the Small Business Office; web manager is Capt. Sofia Russi, a systems engineer in the ICBM Systems Directorate; resource manager is Jason Carrion, a work leader in the F-16 Blast and Paint Shop in the 309th Maintenance Wing; operational officer is Evan Porter, a contracting officer in PK and I am the president, a chemist for the 309th MXW. These officers make up only a small portion of the council. The real meat and potatoes of the TH-JFC are our council members, who not only excel at their jobs, but also find time to help improve the functionality of this base by volunteering for council duty. These individuals have demonstrated that by taking a proactive approach to address concerns of the work force, the TH-JFC can provide a more effective and productive work environment for years to come.
Now, let's get down to business. The council has a lot in store this year. We are going to continue selecting knowledgeable and fascinating presenters for our Speaker Series, which is held biennially at the base theater during the summer and fall. It is going to be a challenge to outdo last year's presenters as both gentlemen delivered pertinent, valued information and stayed for Q & A with the audience until their concerns were addressed. That being said, the council will be taking on the challenge of answering your future concerns by locking in two, possibly three, top- notch speakers for this year. If you have a suggestion for a presenter or want to learn more about a certain subject, please email us at Hill.JFC@Hill.af.mil; otherwise, we look forward to seeing you at the presentations hosted by the TH-JFC.
The TH-JFC is also researching and designing value added products to aid in the development of the junior work force, similar to the TH-JFC's Awards and Recognition brochure, a useful tool to help both co-workers and supervisors give credit where credit is due. The council is brewing up some career development and mentoring materials to ensure that employees at Hill AFB understand their opportunities and take full advantage of them. With all of us going the extra mile, we will easily keep Hill AFB the best center in AFMC.
The council understands the importance of helping others in need. Last year, the TH-JFC put on their first basewide food drive called "Lend a Hand, Give a Can." The event was extremely successful, in which the base generously donated approximately 5,500 pounds of food. The food you donated was distributed to food banks around the local area to support those in need. The council has agreed to sponsor the second annual "Lend a Hand, Give a Can" with hopes to surpass last year's amount. So save your peanut butter, kidney beans and cans of tuna until you see our TH-JFC collection barrels coming to a location near you sometime in the late summer. With everyone giving a little, it can go a long way.
Finally, the Air Force is undergoing a very historical change and we all need to embrace it. I had the opportunity to listen to Maj. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, commander of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, discuss the current plans of each phase in the AFMC restructure and the direction Hill AFB will be heading. In his presentation, he also mentioned that there will be roadblocks and barriers along the way. It is up to all of us to become active supporters during this process for a smooth transition. Therefore, these roadblocks and barriers need to be discovered and fixed promptly before they turn into an overwhelming problem. The TH-JFC would like everyone to know that we are here to help. Feel free to submit your concern anytime on our SharePoint site https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/894/default.aspx and select the link for "Confidential Feedback for the JFC." This survey allows you to leave anonymous feedback for the council, and has a place for you to leave contact information if desired. The council and I are looking forward to making Hill Air Force Base a more proactive, successful and enjoyable work place for all.
Respectfully,
Valentine Sackmann
President of the Team Hill - Junior Force Council
