JUNE 7, 2023 – The Air Force Security Forces Center recently tested a new assessment tool designed to streamline the way the Department of the Air Force tracks and prioritizes repair, renovation and replacement projects at military working dog kennels.
The Kennel Health Assessment Tool, developed with other units in AFSFC’s parent command, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, and a private contractor is designed to make data gathering, updating and sharing information easier while saving manhours.
“The data collected provides the status of infrastructure,” said Tech. Sgt. David Garver, AFSFC assistant DAF MWD program manager. “That includes things like rusty pipes and drainage issues within a kennel, but also information on major infrastructure issues to help commanders at installations and major commands determine what funding goes where when it comes to construction projects.”
In addition to informing decisions at the installation and major command level, the data gives AFSFC leadership a DAF-wide view of kennels and issues that could potentially impact MWD health and their availability to support warfighters, Garver said.
AFIMSC’s Air Force Civil Engineer Center can use the information to project costs for major repairs, new kennel builds or when there’s a need to relocate a kennel, he said.
With an eye toward finding a more proactive way to do business, the Security Forces Center contacted the AFIMSC Installation Support Directorate and its contractor, Solution Foundry, to develop a user-friendly facility health assessment tool.
“Solution Foundry developed the tool to the point where we were able to beta test it prior to making it available to all users,” said Paul Chute, AFSFC DAF MWD operations chief.
AFSFC and Solutions Foundry recently completed testing at 11 installations.
The team is now going over data collected, reviewing user feedback and fixing any bugs in the system.
They expect Phase 1, DAF-wide data collection, to begin in July with a goal of rolling out the tool to all kennel masters in FY ‘24.
By Debbie Aragon
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Public Affairs