Caring for People

Don Bell, 28th Bomb Wing equal employment opportunity manager, facilitates a group discussion about effective communication during the Caring for People forum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., May 23, 2011. Mr. Bell encouraged spouses to ask their Airmen for clarification of military terms, and to inform them of base agencies available to help families adjust to Air Force life, such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center and Equal Opportunity offices. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alessandra N. Gamboa)

Caring for People

(From left to right) Kathy Stephens listens as Glenda Johnson shares her concerns with others during the Caring for People forum at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., May 23, 2011. The program allowed the Ellsworth community an opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas to improve military life, both on the base and at the Air Force level. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alessandra N. Gamboa)

Ellsworth hosts Caring for People forum

Published May 31, 2011
By Airman Alessandra N. Gamboa
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The Ellsworth Integrated Delivery System team conducted the 2011 Ellsworth Caring for People Forum at the Rushmore Center, May 23, to give base members an opportunity to talk about ways to improve the quality of life for the Ellsworth community.

Discussions focused around support for single Airmen, families and family members with special needs, housing, schools, deployments, effective communication between spouses and their Airmen, and physical training and health and wellness.

"This forum is an opportunity for the entire Ellsworth community to provide input on strengthening wing support services and relay messages of service gaps to senior leadership," said Maj. Bryan Kemper, 28th Medical Operations Squadron optometry element chief and Ellsworth CFP Forum IDS chair. "Issues identified locally will be channeled to similar forums at the Air Combat Command and Air Force levels."

Major Kemper emphasized how ideas, concerns and input provided during the forum have the capability to positively influence decisions affecting the entire Air Force community.

Lt. Col. Ryan Hollman, 28th Bomb Wing director of staff encouraged all Airmen to provide input for leadership, and reiterated the importance of seizing this unique opportunity to positively impact their lives and those of their fellow Airmen.

The CFP Forum program's directors will analyze the information provided during the forum, compile a list of the top 10 concerns and address them at the base level, as well as pass them up to decisionmakers at the Air Force level to be reviewed and considered. These then have the potential to create changes in policy and procedures for the entire Air Force community.