2010 Air Force Climate Survey under way

News > 2010 Air Force Climate Survey under way

2010 Air Force Climate Survey under way

Posted 10/12/2010

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by Erin Tindell
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs

10/12/2010 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Total force Airmen and Department of Defense civilians have an opportunity to voice their concerns to Air Force leaders during the 2010 Air Force Climate Survey.

The purpose of the survey is to assess the opinions and perceptions of Air Force active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel on a wide range of issues, including overall job satisfaction, resources and unit performance.

"Maximum input is very crucial in providing valuable feedback to Air Force leaders so they may create positive changes in units," said Col. Brian Norman, the Air Force Manpower Agency commander. "Survey answers directly impact leaders' decisions on issues that affect the total force."

The results of the last survey conducted in the fall of 2008 revealed that more than 90 percent of the nearly 250,000 respondents indicated they were happy with their Air Force jobs and the performance of their organizations. They also indicated they generally had trust in their unit's leadership.

Major concerns revealed by the 2008 survey showed that the strain on manpower and time was an issue for many employees. The majority of home-station Airmen reported an increase in levels of stress, workload and hours due to deployments.

AFMA officials said the average time to complete this year's survey is around 25 minutes, and respondents may save their progress and return at a later time.

As with past surveys, unit leaders will have access to their respective results for improving their organization and their organization's ability to accomplish the mission. However, AFMA officials stress that maximum participation is the only way the Air Force Climate Survey can produce meaningful results.

"It's imperative for our Airmen and DOD civilians to speak today in order to shape tomorrow," Colonel Norman said.

Officials began sending individual e-mail invitations Oct. 8 for the confidential survey that will be conducted in stages.

For more information about the 2010 Air Force Climate Survey, visit the Air Force Portal.

Comments

10/14/2010 2:57:13 PM ET
I also was disappointed at the amount of space available to type comments. I had some things I wanted to put in there.

MM, FL

10/14/2010 1:03:12 PM ET
I just did the climate survey. I was happy to see that I was among those selected to do it. I was very disappointed. Where were the 'hard-hitting questions' that the E-mail mentioned This was soft. There were a few places to make very short comments about specific topics. Perhaps the leadership should be reading comments on this website then if they aren't going to provide space in the highly-touted climate survey.

DMPI, Bolling AFB DC

10/14/2010 1:18:47 AM ET
I don't put much weight on these surveys. They have little affect. In general, the AF has always been 90 percent satisfied with their current situation. These surveys need to focus on the troops' main concerns. Those seem to be deployments, housing, pay, PT standards, and uniforms. Seems to me the emphasis should be on PT standards and uniforms since the most complaints are in those areas. On a side note, Unit Climate Assessments need to be reviewed closely by someone other than the commander since I've watched commanders laugh off comments from them when they were accurate.

wigman, AirForce

10/13/2010 4:44:56 PM ET
I believe the survey results are taken seriously. I was in a unit once who gave the commander a very poor score. Once the commander received the results, he held a commanders call with the whole squadron to express his reaction to the poor results he received. Small changes were made in the remaining time the commander was there.

rt, ko

10/13/2010 3:38:35 PM ET
@ Vaporhead, I used to think the same thing until I became one of those leaders and saw what leadership goes through and tries to do with the results. Are they addressed to satisfy everyone? Nope! Can't do that, never have and never will. You should have a little faith in your leadership or if you don't have faith, fill out the survey and go talk to them about your thoughts. Scared men can't win, Vaporhead, scared men can't win.

RH, LA

10/13/2010 3:35:14 PM ET
Major concerns revealed by the 2008 survey showed that the strain on manpower and time was an issue for many employees. The majority of home-station Airmen reported an increase in levels of stress workload and hours due to deployments. And what exactly has been done with this finding? Exactly Pointless survey...well put, Vaporhead

J, DMAFB

10/13/2010 3:28:29 PM ET
With all the mess that's happened in the past two years in the Air Force, ie ABUs, PT uniform, PT testing, the new Air Force motto, and other career field specific issues, I can't wait to take the climate assessment. Hopefully someone will the time to actually read and interpret the input appropriately.

Shawn, Lackland

10/13/2010 2:58:00 PM ET
@Vaporhead - I don't know what your talking about with the leadership sitting behind desks all day. My entire leadership from my supervisor all the way to my squadron commander come to see how we're doing on almost a weekly basis. I know I haven't been in the Air Force all that long and it may be different depending on bases and squadrons but I'm extremely happy with my leadership.

AMN, Mountain Home AFB

10/13/2010 1:24:37 PM ET
I disagree to some extent with the comment about little action being taking with survey results. I was part of a group that received very poor comments from the climate survey. Though directed at failure within the group command, the commander of the squadron that complained the most got administratively punished for low morale. I didn't say that the survey would ellicit appropriate action....

MK, WHMC

10/13/2010 7:58:06 AM ET
I never knew a Squadron, Group, Wing Commander to take these survey results seriously and actually act on them. Do they honestly think that they give the appearance that they care about the troops by conducting a computerized survey? If commanders want to know the climate of their groups then they need to get out from behind the desk and actually talk to their troops.

Vaporhead, USA

10/12/2010 7:10:14 PM ET
For those invited, here's your chance to give positive input to the AF... Here's hoping everybody with an opinion takes advantage of the opportunity, should it come your way.

tr, ok

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