6/18/2013 – RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) — Units in U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa now have the ability to obtain equipment and supplies for free through the command’s Business Transformation Office Airmen’s List SharePoint site.
The site, accessible through the USAFE Portal, allows unit representatives to post equipment or supply items no longer needed for others to claim. Command officials hope to save money by repurposing supplies and equipment, via the site.
“It’s important to take advantage of every opportunity to reduce costs, save money and resources, especially with the financially restrictive environment we’re in,” said Maj. Rene Alvidrez, the deputy director of the USAFE-AFAFRICA BTO and Airmen’s List site designer.
Alvidrez said the command expects to save $500,000 in the first year the site is available. He highlighted the success of Commander Action Group’s List, a bulletin board site, similar to Airmen’s List, for units at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England.
Since its establishment in November 2012, CAGS List has enabled 14 units to post 1,727 items on the site resulting in savings of more than $387,000. The site averages about 3,000 hits per month and was used to develop the command site.
Staff Sgt. Charles M. Nelson, a supply NCO with the 100th Security Forces Squadron, said CAGS List allowed his unit to increase floor space in its supply hangar by 85 percent and useable space in the unit’s mobility yard by 90 percent.
Nelson said the 100th SFS was able to provide 16 individual storage units, fencing, concertina wire and furniture to other units, via CAGS List.
He also said the site has been very beneficial to RAF Mildenhall members.
“Units get needed supplies without having to spend money, and in my case, I was able to free up much needed space,” he added.
Alvidrez said he hopes units across USAFE-AFAFRICA take advantage of Airmen’s List.
“We built this site to help units and allow people to post items they no longer need,” he said. “If units have excess items like ink cartridges, desks, printers, anything; they can make those items available to other units who may need them for free.”
The Airmen’s List site, Alvidrez said, is user friendly and features tabs for each base in the USAFE-AFAFRICA area of operations. Users can post items by clicking on their respective base tabs and following the instructions. Users can also transfer information technology equipment like computers and monitors between units by completing the Information Technology Transfer form on the site.
“This website is one of many productivity tools we are trying to roll out for Airmen to take advantage of,” said Col. Scott A. Forest, the chief of the USAFE-AFAFRICA BTO. “The ‘Make It Count’ suggestion site with the big red button is another and we’re working on a military application with the communications community; exciting stuff.”
Airmen’s List is available to anyone with access to the Air Force Network and is restricted to the posting of government equipment and supplies only. The sale of personal items is prohibited. Airmen’s List is also only available from a government computer.