Changes to come to base honor guard

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Magen M. Reeves
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  From Feb. 22-25, a team of enlisted leaders, co-facilitators and an officer conducted a Continuous Process Improvement event focused on the Malmstrom Air Force Base Honor Guard program. 

A CPI focuses on brainstorming ideas for improving the 'how' and the 'why' behind the manning for the honor guard.

"The (CPI) identifies issues and addresses them from a business perspective," said Lt. Col. Michael Epper, 341st Force Support Squadron commander. "They determine whether there is a problem and what can be done to solve it."

According to Epper, the CPI team members discussed the issues associated with honor guard manning and after a consensus is made for a solution, will provide recommendations for policy changes to wing leadership.

Changes are expected to occur in time for the next honor guard manning rotation cycle come April.

"Our goal is to improve the processes with how we acquire new Airmen, the rotational schedule and manning numbers," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Cenatiempo, CPI team member and NCO in charge of the Malmstrom AFB Honor Guard.

The team was made up of members from each of the six groups represented at the 341st Missile Wing; mission support, maintenance, security forces, operations, medical and wing staff agencies.

The 341st FSS, which the honor guard program falls under, had a team of co-facilitators to offer unbiased direction for conversations and solutions. 

Using the insight gained from a CPI event is critical to any program. Leadership can use the opportunity to better understand the specifics that go into how Malmstrom's force is stocked and how numbers are maintained.

"We would like to get word out so that others around the base can see what we're doing and maybe conduct the same type of event to improve their processes, minimize waste, and maximize their contributions as well," said Cenatiempo.