Community feedback tool: you can influence change

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daniel Brosam
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The 2017 Air Force Community Feedback Tool opened Aug. 2 and is being used to provide critical insight for senior leaders regarding the strengths and needs of Air Force communities.

This voluntary, confidential, web-based survey is available to all Air Force military personnel, their spouses and Air Force civilian employees, and the responses will help ensure that community priorities are understood. However, too few respondents will leave the Air Force in the dark about the views of different types of people in different types of locations.

“I highly encourage every Airman, spouse and civilian to participate in the survey so we can accurately determine what our organization needs and where we are falling short,” said Col. Peter Bonetti, 341st Missile Wing vice commander.

Invitations were sent out to Airmen and civilian employees via email and spouses received it by mail. A government computer is not required to take the survey and it takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

The Air Force has administered different types of community assessment surveys in the past including a version in 2013.

Some of the changes that came from past feedback include: an assessment of healthy food options in a base environment, additional psychological health resources for reservists, new chaplain initiatives to better meet the community’s spiritual needs, targeted information campaigns to help Airmen and families leverage Air Force resources to prepare for deployments, increased safety in off-base neighborhoods through a partnership between base leaders and civilian law enforcement, and additional outreach and marketing to increase knowledge of social programs that support Airmen and their spouses.

“If Airmen and their families want to affect change, this is how they can do it,” said Lori Muzzana, 341st MW community support coordinator. “This survey will help identify what is lacking and show what resources and policies need to be implemented.”

The survey is expected to close Oct. 2. Results will be analyzed and compiled into reports then shared with bases to plan for their communities. Results from the study will be presented so that individuals cannot be identified, and a link to the report on the Air Force-wide results will be posted online.

“We want to hear the comments, but we need to validate accurate concerns through the survey,” said Muzzana.

Individuals who did not receive their survey invitation or want more information may visit the Frequently Asked Questions at rand.org/af-feedback.