CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Over the years, little "truisms" have crept into my daily use of the English language, often confounding my coworkers and friends.
One phrase I probably unconsciously use most often, "six of one, half dozen of the other," seems to draw the most questions. It seems an obvious phrase, meaning two different names for the same thing.
Its meaning is obvious to me, although having to explain it should indicate it isn't as apparent as I might like to believe, but it creeps into my conversations none the less.
Another saying might be more familiar. It's been around at least since the last round of manning cuts way back in the early '90s - "do more with less."
Sounds good, if you started off with an excess of whatever you needed to do more with. But for many it wasn't as good as it sounded.
It's a pretty straight forward proposition that if there is less manpower, money, tools and parts, less is going to get done. The flip side to that issue is when resources get thin there is more willingness to effect change.
If you read last week's article in the base newspaper on Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, you know that senior leaders are serious about making substantive changes.
In my estimation, there is still a lot of wasted effort that can yet be eliminated on a smaller scale. "Do more with less" is an invitation to do things smarter, more efficiently and to effect real substantial change in your work place.
Sometimes making cuts and streamlining means that tasks my Airmen and civilian workers performed in the past are going to be passed on to our customers, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Having to do things for yourself makes you look harder at whether it's really "value added" or just "nice to have".
Paying for what you want via resources or manpower makes you look just a little harder at what you're getting and its true value. Also, the word "essential" takes on a new meaning. Customers need to take a closer look at what is really needed, and whether it is essential or nice to have.
For example, the base Multimedia Center had six photographers assigned a few years ago, and we used to photograph a variety of ceremonies. Nearly half of the individuals photographed never came to pick up the ceremony photos. At the time, arranging for photo support was part of local checklists, but asking whether the individual actually wanted photos was not part of the checklist.
Fifty percent manning cuts brought an end to most ceremonies we photographed.
With the increasing quality and decreasing price of digital cameras, it was a service that was easily replaced by a family member or co-worker. Rapid changes in technology for digital photos and video has allowed the capability for our customers to acquire the same imagery we used to supply.
The Multimedia Center and Public Affairs Office saw similar cuts in personnel. Changes, restructuring and elimination of some services are subsequently being examined. Some services will pass to customers, and some of those customers will decide the value added is not worth the cost and those services will cease.
The Public Affairs and Multimedia Center leadership will bring all services supplied in line with the available manpower, eliminating those services which can be supplied by our customers or those which are not mission essential.
This will enable our personnel to focus more fully on those services that are essential and have the greatest impact to those we serve.
In short, reexamine business as usual.