Public Affairs Guidance

Transcription

1 Public Affairs Guidance Air Force Health and Welfare Inspection 4 December PURPOSE. Provide commanders, supervisors, and Airmen at all levels public affairs guidance on the Air Force-wide Health and Welfare Inspection directed by the Air Force Chief of Staff. 2. COMMUNICATION POSTURE. Active. Leaders at all levels should use this guidance to communicate their activities relative to the Health and Welfare Inspection. 3. PUBLIC RELEASE. Chief of Staff directs Air Force-wide Health and Welfare inspection CSAF: It s the right thing to do WASHINGTON - Commanders across the Air Force will conduct health and welfare inspections starting Dec. 5 to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace. The health and welfare inspection is a tool routinely used by unit commanders, command chiefs, and first sergeants. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III tasked commanders during the Nov. 28 Wing Commanders Call to examine their work settings and ensure Airmen at all levels consistently apply standards of professionalism and respect across the service. Over the past months, I ve discussed with our commanders, leaders and supervisors about the importance of pride and performance, said Welsh. When Airmen work in a setting that is consistent with our core values of integrity, service and excellence, they perform with honor and distinction they deserve nothing less. Anything short detracts from that pride and cripples mission effectiveness. The purpose of this inspection is to reinforce expectations for the workplace environment, correct deficiencies, and deter conditions that may be detrimental to good order and discipline. Commanders will look for and remove unprofessional or inappropriate items that hinder a professional working environment. This is about commanders being commanders, Welsh said. The underlying principle for the inspection is our core values, and the bottom line is that it s the right thing to do. FINAL V11 1

2 4. THEMES AND MESSAGES: Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do Promoting dignity, trust, and respect An environment of dignity, trust, and respect is important to our culture of professionalism and discipline. Airmen must adhere to our core values and the highest standards of professionalism. This isn t optional. Our Airmen deserve to work in an environment that is consistent with our core values of integrity, service and excellence. Health and welfare inspections are not out of the ordinary While this is the first time this has been directed Air Force-wide, a Health and Welfare Inspection is nothing new to Airmen. Commanders, Command Chiefs, and First Sergeants routinely use this tool in order to emphasize a culture of professionalism and discipline in their units. It s about commanders being commanders Commanders are expected to foster a climate where Airmen are comfortable, believe they are safe and can excel and thrive professionally and personally. Commanders are held accountable when their units don t meet the high standards of our service. The Air Force-wide simultaneous implementation of this inspection will ensure our work environments reflect the caliber of Airmen serving in our Air Force. 5. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Q. Why is this being done now, and under whose authority? A. This effort is underway in order to ensure we have an environment of respect, trust, and professionalism. The direction was made by the Air Force Chief of Staff and approved by the Secretary of the Air Force under his authority as head of the Department of the Air Force. The inspection will be conducted under the provisions of Military Rule of Evidence 313, Inspections and inventories in the armed forces. Commanders at all levels are expected to ensure their units meet this expectation. FINAL V11 2

3 The purpose of this inspection is to ensure military fitness and good order and discipline in the United States Air Force. Consistent with this purpose, commanders and supervisors at all levels have an ongoing responsibility to keep government work areas free of inappropriate materials. When given the opportunity to work in such an environment, our Airmen accomplish the mission with honor and distinction. Q. What is being inspected? A. The places to be inspected are all government work areas (to include sensitive compartmented information and other secure facilities) under a commander s command or control, including any common areas such as, but not limited to, day rooms, break rooms, squadron recreation areas, briefing rooms, heritage rooms, etc., as well as common areas in cyber space such as government computer shared drives (including classified shared drives) and the common areas of military dormitories accessible to all residents. Q. What is not being inspected? A. This does not include individual desk or cabinet drawers, clothing (e.g., coats), lockers, purses, brief cases, backpacks, private automobiles, and individual (personal & government issued) computer hard drives and individual (personal & government) accounts. Q. Are civilian workspaces included? A. Yes. All Airmen have a responsibility to maintain an appropriate work environment. However, this inspection does not include individual desk or cabinet drawers, clothing (e.g., coats), lockers, purses, brief cases, backpacks, private automobiles, and individual (personal & government issued) computer hard drives and individual (personal & government) accounts. Q. Will commanders be searching drawers or going through closets? A. Only those in common areas, not those assigned to individuals. Q. Who will conduct the inspections? A. It will be at the discretion of the commander of each unit; however, it will primarily be unit leadership. Q. If my unit has logos and/or items that are deemed inappropriate, is there an appeal process? A. Yes. Members can use their chain of command to voice issues or concerns they may have. Q. What exactly is considered inappropriate? Can you give me examples? A. Anything that could be considered in poor taste or offensive would be considered inappropriate. All of us know what right looks like, or at least we should. If it s questionable, it s probably inappropriate. FINAL V11 3

4 Also, just because someone does not outwardly object to a calendar, poster or song, does not make it okay for the workplace. The goal of this inspection is to ensure military fitness and good order and discipline in the United States Air Force. Commanders will look for, document, and remove papers, books, journals, magazines, videos, or songbooks that would create a hostile or offensive work environment. Commanders and supervisors at all levels are expected to use their best judgment to ensure they are maintaining an appropriate work environment. Q. Where will the inspections take place? A. Commanders have been ordered to inspect all government work areas under their command or control, including common areas such as day-rooms, break-rooms, squadron recreation areas, heritage rooms, etc., as well as government computer shared drives and the areas of military dormitories accessible to all residents. The areas to be inspected include all areas visible to anyone walking into an office, cubicle, or other work area, such as on walls, cabinets, and desks. Q. When will my unit be inspected? A. The order for inspections was signed by SecAF on Dec. 3, We expect all work areas to be inspected starting as early as Dec. 5. Q. Was this done in response to the MTI cases? A. There have been several indicators that this inspection was necessary, including concerns raised by people in the Air Force. Q. Will units or individuals be punished if inappropriate items are found? A. This is not an attempt to catch someone doing something wrong it s designed to ensure our work environments reflect the caliber of Airmen serving in our Air Force. The inspection will help correct conditions detrimental to proper standards of readiness and ensure military fitness and good order and discipline in the U.S. Air Force. Inappropriate items will be removed, and any illegal items discovered will be handled according to the UCMJ and appropriate evidence handling procedures. Q. What happens to the inappropriate items? A. They will be removed and documented. Illegal items will be reported to law enforcement and processed appropriately.. Q. Isn t this a gross violation of privacy? A. Areas inspected are Air Force work areas and personnel do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy to their government work areas, particularly those areas visible to others. The inspections are FINAL V11 4

5 being undertaken under the provisions of Military Rule of Evidence 313, Inspections and inventories in the armed forces and the Secretary of the Air Force s authority. Q. Is this about sexual assault? A. It is about respect and our core values. The inspection was directed to ensure Airmen at all levels take professionalism and respect seriously. It s also important that Airmen understand that their commanders are committed to a work environment that is consistent with our Air Force core values and reflects the respect all Airmen have for each other. Q. How many items do you expect to find, and can I get a copy of the results of the inspection? A. We don t know what we will find. This is not an attempt to catch someone doing something wrong it s designed to ensure our work environments reflect the caliber of Airmen serving in our Air Force. 6. POINT OF CONTACT. The point of contact for this document is SAF/PAO at (703) or DSN FINAL V11 5