U-Kleen dormitory program recognizes first quarterly award winners

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The residents of five dormitories in the infamous "horseshoe" are participating in an innovative new program that does away with the traditional "bay orderly" duties. The U-Kleen Program was initiated in February and the winner of the first quarterly competition - Dormitory 764 - was recognized May 21. 

"The program was designed as an incentive to create competition between the dormitories," said Master Sgt. Albert Moczygemba, unaccompanied housing chief. "But in turn, it will save the Air Force more than 14,000 hours a year in bay orderly duties. That's 14,000 hours Airmen are on duty performing the mission instead." 

The greatest difference in the two programs is when the tasks are accomplished.
"U-Kleen is more challenging (than bay orderly) because it involves coordinating a team effort that cuts into everyone's off-duty time," said Airman 1st Class Julio Reategui, dormitory chief for building 764. "One major difference is a lone versus shared mentality. Another is the benefit of better payoff. If we can display teamwork through a presentable building, it proves we can handle greater privileges." 

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, members of the unaccompanied housing office inspect and grade each dormitory participating. Areas are rated and a pass-fail system is used for each. Like items, such as stairwells, are grouped together so if one in the group fails, they whole group fails, according to Staff Sgt. Terry Hendricks, dormitory manager for building 764. 

"The inspection sheet for the dormitory is placed in a binder for the residents to review and correct discrepancies found," Sergeant Hendricks said. "Points will be calculated and posted on the share drive so all the participating dormitory resident's can review them. On the last day of the quarter, points will be added together and the dormitory with the highest three-month total is the winner." 

The majority of the program responsibility falls on the dormitory chief. 

"My primary duty is to maintain dormitory cleanliness with the help from all available residents," Airman Reategui said. "To accomplish this, I oversee a cleaning schedule for all inspectable areas." 

He also oversees the other supervisors. 

"There is a supervisor assigned to each floor - three in total," Airman Reategui said. "They act as area pre-inspectors, trainers and advisors. It is their duty to ensure each Airman on their floor follows through with their assigned detail." 

Areas inspected include common areas, such as the day rooms, laundry facilities, hallways and stairwells as well as the grounds around the buildings. There are nine areas total that are looked at, said Staff Sgt. Vanessa Labarge, manager of the U-Kleen and Bay Orderly programs. 

"Several dormitories are still operating under the bay orderly program because there is so much shift work involved with them," Sergeant Labarge said. "But the five dormitories using the new program have embraced the idea and it is improving all the time." 

One of the reasons the residents have embraced it is because of the incentive if they win the quarterly award. 

"We reward the quarterly award winning dormitory by letting the residents decide, within reason, on what they would like to see added to their facility to improve their quality of life," Sergeant Labarge explained. "It makes working to keep their dormitory clean on their own time more worthwhile." 

The residents of building 764 haven't made a firm decision on what their reward will be.
"Most of the residents are receptive to setting up a computer lab on the second floor," Airman Reategui said. "I will confirm this with the Airmen by the end of the week." 

While the program is still in the early stages, its successes indicate its future looks bright. The positive impact it is having on the Airmen is one reason. 

"We set the grading system up much like a Nuclear Surety Inspection," Sergeant Moczygemba said. "This way, the younger Airmen learn the (inspection) process right from the start and take this knowledge with them to their work sites. Many skills are being developed in management, communications, teamwork and leadership. Once again, Malmstrom's Airmen are demonstrating their superb capabilities."