11 Sep 15 - Brown Bag Q&A POC

The GC Brown Bag Luncheon POC is Carol-Ann Fisher; Plans, Analysis & Integration Office; 767-5047 or email: carol.a.fisher1.civ@mail.mil

3 Jun 15 - Routing Slips for Garrison HQs

Question: ISO: Routing slips for documents brought to Garrison HQs?  When we drop off and pick up documents to/from HQs we have to log it in and sign for it, but they don’t.

Answer: GCSM:  Bring your routing slip with you for USAG staff to sign when dropping off documents.  This will keep everyone held accountable for the whereabouts of your documents.

GC: I agree.  You can also put it out on SharePoint.  SharePoint is the way to go to track your documents.

3 Jun 15 - Motorcycle Safety Course

Comment: The Safety Office is in a better position now than in years past.  There is great progress being made with the motorcycle course. 

Question:  GC: Have you re-visited the bldg issue from 2 years ago?  The estimate back then was over $1M.  Are you going to re-submit the project? 

Answer: ISO stated that they will be moving into bldg. 627 once it has been renovated.

 

3 Jun 15 - Processing Civilian Awards

Question:  Other staff members are processing awards and leaving me out of the loop.  I have been doing this for 13 years and don’t understand why people are bypassing me and going straight to the Garrison HQs?  This is causing friction between us and I don’t like it.

Answer:  GCSM:  I will ask this?  How often do you get together with your folks to train?  With all of that knowledge that you have, it would be great if you could share it with others in your directorate so that information sharing is communicated more freely and to expand the knowledge of others.

GC: We will inform the Company and Battalion of the proper protocols regarding processing military vs civilian awards. 

3 Jun 15 - Processing Awards

Question:  Processing Awards:  An award was processed for a chaplain back in March and in May it came back with corrections and requesting changes be made to the write up and that it was too lengthy.  It is not fair that we should have to re-write the award based on what the Installation Chaplain initially wrote. 

Answer:  GCSM:  I believe that there is more involved with this particular situation.  When I see late awards at Staff Call it upsets me.  When I spoke to the company about this problem, you probably received some of their frustration.  So some of that was my fault. 

GC: You could ask CPAC to conduct training for your HR folks.  You could also create a flowchart to show your folks the awards process between military vs civilian. 

2 Jun 15 - Fitness Classes at Newman Gym

Question:  How do you determine what classes are taught at Newman Gym?  I would like a boxing class.

Answer:  Great idea!  FMWR can offer fitness classes depending upon being able to get a contractor to teach it and the desire of the patrons to attend.  We can certainly look into a boxing class.

2 Jun 15 - Awards

Question:  GCSM:  What is the highest award that you have received as a civilian? 

Answer:  Group:  GC coin, 59 minutes, cash award.

GC: Unlike the military awards system, the civilian awards system is a stair-step process.  You must receive the lower awards before ever receiving a higher civilian award.  I disagree with the process and we need to do a better job at getting our directors to award civilian awards to their employees, so that by the time they retire, they will get a well-deserved higher civilian service award for their time in service.

 

2 Jun 15 - RDO's

Question:  Why can’t MWR employees get RDO’s anymore?

Answer:  RDO’s ended on 31 Dec 14.  What is in place now is the flexible work schedule where APF employees can earn a total of 24 credit hours while working within the core hours of 0900-1500, and then employees can use those credit hours for time off.

With that said however, FMWR programs and services are front door operations that require staffing at customer expected levels throughout the day and week. FMWR cannot offer RDO’s.  Hours of work are consistent with AR 215-3 and Article 26 of the FS/HAAF NAF & AFGE Local 1922 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

24 Apr 15 - Media Content on TV Screens

Question:  Who controls the media content on the TV screens in areas on the installation?

Answer:  MWR controls it.  It is managed through a NAF contract.

24 Apr 15 - S6 Authorizations

Question:  Do you think we will get anymore authorizations in S6?

Answer:  We may end up receiving another which would increase your authorizations to two, but is still unknown for certain.

24 Apr 15 - Garrison Visitor Parking Area

Question: Why are there 4 handicapped parking spots across from the garrison visitor parking area?  1-2 would be enough and they should be closer to building 624.

Answer:  We will look at a possible re-striping project and putting the parking spaces closer to the door.

21 Apr 15 - GC DPW Brown Bag Closing Comments

GC Closing Comment: Feel free to send me an email with any concerns.

21 Apr 15 - Ft Stewart Football Golf Project

Question:  Are there any plans to construct a Football Golf Project at Ft Stewart?

Answer:  We are evaluating the program right now at Hunter AAF.  If it is successful, we can implement at Ft Stewart.  Overall, the cost to implement is very inexpensive (approx. $5K).

21 Apr 15 - Civilian Game Wardens

Question:  Are the Civilian Game Wardens being replaced with Soldiers?

Answer:  There is no current no plan to replace Department of the Army Conservation Law Enforcement Officers with Soldiers.

21 Apr 15 - Unit ISR Inspections

Question:  Units are not completing their ISR inspections in a timely manner.  What can be done about that?

Answer:  I will re-emphasize the timelines for completion to the units.

21 Apr 15 - NCO Academy Instructors

Question:  Are there any civilian instructors at the NCO Academy?  If not, can we assist if needed?

Answer:  Currently the instructors are only active duty Soldiers, but we can let them know we do have experienced civilians that can assist with instruction if needed.

21 Apr 15 - IMCOM Training Courses

Question:  Can IMCOM reduce the 90 day requirement in obtaining funding approval on attending training courses?

Answer:  IMCOM is currently in the process of redeveloping the workforce development program, but it takes a lot of time.  We can look at some exceptions to policy with regards to those unique training courses offered.

21 Apr 15 - Employee Cross Training

Question:  Cross training opportunities: There is so much competitiveness (ICTAP, VEOA, etc).  Despite having degrees, some fields and series are extremely difficult to move up/out from within for professional development (ie: Supply Tech).  What can we do?

Answer:  I would recommend not limiting yourself to only Ft Stewart as the reality is there are only so many positions on the TDA.  Continue to strive in making yourself marketable and more competitive.  Cross training is very important to me, but you have to also be mobile or open to relocation in order to move up sometimes.  This should be discussed with your supervisor during counseling periods.  I encourage all employees to look at other opportunities for advancement/career development and cross training certainly helps in making you marketable.  This can be discussed and approved between Directors and can even be split up over time (ie: 2 hrs/day).  It’s all about taking care of employees and is something outlined within my Annual Training Guidance.

21 Apr 15 - Service Contract Contingency Clins

Question:  Service Contracts (ie: Cost Plus): Is there any way to add a clause to service contracts to add additional funding instead of going through an entire “re-signing” process?  In other words, can we as IMCOM for De-obligated funds that were not used to cover incidentals? (Example was: set original contract lower but have funds available in needed in a “general fund of some kind” if needed).

Answer: The answer is yes.  We can and sometimes add a "contingency clin" to a service contract without any funding on it initially.  If funding is needed urgently we can quickly add funding to the clin that has already been established without re-negotiating the entire contract.  Or, if there is money on a clin that is not needed at the end of a contract we can de-obligate those dollars and ideally use them for another purpose.  DPW is currently looking at all their contracts to see where this needs to be done.

21 Apr 15 - Pedestrian Crossing Adjacent DPW

Question:  The pedestrian crossing in front of DPW (Bldg 1137) is not being followed or adhered to by motorist and many have almost been struck while crossing the roadway. How can this be resolved?

Answer:  We can increase patrols in that area and we may need to do a campaign.  We are going to see more traffic circles since statistics have shown they reduce accidents overall. We have increase patrols presents during peak times mentioned to enforce traffic regulations.