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Consolidated telephone services change April 1

  • Published
  • By Dianne Moffett
  • Air Education and Training Command public affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  A key component of Air Education and Training Command's Culture of Cost Consciousness, or C3, is the application of technology to achieve cost savings - also known as Information Technology Efficiencies.

AETC is changing the way it conducts consolidated telephone operations. The end result will be the automation of some CTO services like Hearts Apart, morale calls and conference call hosting.

The most visible change for customers will be the elimination of full-time base operator services. Beginning April 1, operator assistance will be available Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to midnight.

"Rest assured, service to our customers is still a priority for AETC - we just think there are smarter and more efficient ways to provide these services," said Rebecca Meares-Jones, chief of the AETC Computer Systems Squadron's Services Flight.

The Computer Systems Squadron plans to implement the fully automated system as soon as possible and complete the change during the next six months, Meares-Jones said.

Initially, she said there may be some impact to customers from bases currently served by the CTO. She explained that deployed Airmen who previously made morale calls to their home station through base operators, will now be issued a personal identification number and will complete those calls without operator assistance.

Similarly, callers looking for organizations or people on base were previously helped by base operators. Instead, base operators will be available for the next few months, but hours for directory service will be decreased over time. Eventually, all callers will be forwarded to a call tree for the most frequently called numbers.

"Manpower constraints will drive us to reduce operating hours before all of the automated solutions are in place," Meares-Jones said, "but we will ensure all possible actions are taken to minimize impact to AETC's mission and personnel."

"This is one small beginning step," said Lt. Col. Michael Moyles, Computer Systems Squadron Commander, "as we find ways to continue providing service to our customers both efficiently and economically. There will be many more in the days ahead."