Commander's Corner

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DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Commander's Corner is a forum for the Dyess community to make suggestions or voice concerns about Dyess directly to Col. Michael Bob Starr, 7th Bomb Wing commander. Each week the Dyess Public Affairs office solicits questions via the official Dyess Facebook page, offering people an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers directly from the wing commander.

COMMENT

Sonya Salisbury - Sir, We would like to thank you for continuing this valuable forum which gives us an opportunity to discuss directly with you our concerns. As civilians on Dyess AFB we have seen the impacts of sequestration as much as anyone. We understand funds are tight. However; with the pending civilian appraisals I believe it is important to stress to new supervisors of civilians that the decrease in award bonuses (both financial and time off) over the past few years are not an indication of poor performance on the part of the employee. I bring this up because some military supervisors are of the impression that due to falling award amounts it is an indication of dissatisfaction with the employee. As civilians we know this is not the case (although it does feel like it). Your assistance in assuring that new supervisors do not view the award amounts and their decrease as punishment (for lack of a better word) is greatly appreciated. Thank You for Your Service and Welcome Back Sir!!!
 
Col. Michael Bob Starr
Col. Michael Bob Starr		   RESPONSE
 
First of all, let me say thanks to all of our civilian employees for their continued dedication to the Team Dyess mission. You are a vital part of our success, and you are as important to me as your fellow Airmen who happen to wear a uniform. My leadership team and I recognize and regret the hardships our civilian Airmen have endured as a result of the difficult fiscal environment we have operated in over the last few years. The lack of funding for cash awards and limited use of time-off awards does not reflect the value of our civilian workforce, and in no way suggests there has been a decrease in performance level across the board. Nevertheless, to ensure our civilian Airmen are being taken care of during the appraisal process, I have reminded supervisors that the program's intent is to effectively evaluate and reward an individual's performance, and have instructed them to rate their employees accurately and honestly. In addition, each group has been directed to establish a Quality Review Panel to authenticate performance appraisals and guarantee their accuracy. I hope I have addressed your concern, and thank you again for the critical skills and hard work you contribute to our team.

COMMENT

Robert Morris - Welcome to Abilene. Be sure you hit up Little Italy and The Beehive!
 
Col. Michael Bob Starr
Col. Michael Bob Starr		   RESPONSE

Robert, thanks for the warm Texas welcome! This is my fourth assignment at Dyess, and my family and I are thrilled to be back in a place that feels like home. The support we receive from the Abilene community is truly legendary and we appreciate it very much. Since arriving in February, we have visited several of our favorite restaurants, and both of the establishments you mentioned would be on that list. In addition, we've discovered several more "new" favorites. Thank you for your recommendations!

COMMENT

Sandra Zinke Lecroy - Looking forward to you dropping in at the BHOP nurses office.
 
Col. Michael Bob Starr
Col. Michael Bob Starr		   RESPONSE

Sandra, one of the best parts of this job is interacting with our Airmen and visiting them in their work centers, watching and learning from them as they execute the mission. I am excited to begin my immersion with the Medical Group in a couple weeks, so I can learn more about the various parts of our medical team, including the Behavioral Health Optimization Program. Once again Sandra, thank you for the outstanding care that you and your co-workers provide to our Airmen and families; I too am looking forward to the visit!

QUESTION

Theron Gandaoli - I have seen in the news recently, that there is a proposed Air Force Reserve unit possibly starting up in FY15. In your opinion, how likely is it to happen? I'm very interested in transferring.
 
Col. Michael Bob Starr
Col. Michael Bob Starr		   RESPONSE

Theron, the activation of a B-1 Reserve unit was proposed by the Defense Department as part of the FY15 President's Budget, in line with an Air Force-wide initiative to optimize our capabilities by leveraging the contributions of the Total Force (Active and Reserve). As such, the AF is exploring opportunities to integrate the AF Reserve and active-duty components wherever practical. There is great value in doing so, because sharing infrastructure and support structure reduces costs while providing the same level of combat capability. While the proposed budget has yet to be approved, I am excited to hear you're interested in joining us here at Team Dyess - I think such a unit would be a popular option for Airmen who want to remain in or join the Abilene community.