Mass in-processing event streamlines Academy arrivals

Col. Brian Hastings, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, briefs new U.S. Air Force Academy graduates before they in-process at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 6, 2013. Approximately 150 graduates processed through Laughlin to begin pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Mass in-processing event streamlines Academy arrivals

U.S. Air Force Academy graduates in process at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 6, 2013. Bulk in-processing of the graduates allows the process to be more efficient in imputting each lieutenant’s information into Laughlin record-keeping systems. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Mass in-processing event streamlines Academy arrivals

2nd Lt. Jeffery Downie, a recent U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, in-processes at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 6, 2013. Approximately 10 agencies came together and 10,000 man-hours were saved when the newly graduated lieutenants in-processed together. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Mass in-processing event streamlines Academy arrivals

Published Aug. 7, 2013
By Senior Airman Nathan Maysonet
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- More than 150 U.S. Air Force Academy graduates, set to begin pilot training here, attended Laughlin's second annual mass in-processing event Aug. 6 at Club XL.

The event brought together several base agencies under one roof to streamline the registering of the arriving, and soon to be, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot students.

"The purpose of this event is to provide newly arrived Academy graduates with a unique community-based in-processing experience," said Capt. Justin Hinrichs, 47th Student Squadron assistant director of operations and event coordinator. "This is one consolidated experience that brings all of the players across base together to save time and money in registering the new arrivals to Laughlin."

Before the creation of this program, arriving Academy graduates assigned to Laughlin for pilot training were required to visit more than 10 agencies on base as part of their in-processing, which included: dental, flight medicine, Tricare, housing, legal, safety, finance, and more.

"We had hundreds of students going to different places all over base," said Capt. Stephen Wiley, 47th STUS graduate flight commander. "We gave them all a checklist and said, 'go register.' Now we put everyone in one place which saves thousands of work hours and we get each step done in 20 minutes instead of days."

To accomplish this task, the 47th STUS coordinated with the offices on base responsible for in-processing the arriving students so all their needs could be met, explained Hinrichs. It was decided that the morning hours would be devoted to the briefings required by each agency during processing. In the afternoon, the officers would be divided into smaller groups and rotated between stations to fill out paper work.

"We sped up the whole process doing it this way," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Lee, 47th Medical Operations Squadron NCO in charge of dental records and reception. "Instead of seeing 30 or 40 lieutenants appearing at our counters to be registered, we are taking care of all of them here."

By completing the briefings and paperwork in one location at one time, the event is estimated to save Laughlin more than 10,000 man hours and thousands of dollars in labor costs, explained Hinrichs.

"So many people are involved in making this event work, and its effects are readily apparent," said Hinrichs. "Next week life kicks off for these officers and with the normal way of in-processing it was difficult guaranteeing everyone was taken care of. With mass in-processing, we save time, money and ensure everyone is taken care of. We also build a sense of community with the students that they are a part of Laughlin and the 47th STUS."