AETC Airmen encouraged to share ‘Best Practices’ Published April 30, 2010 By Master Sgt. Paul Kilgallon Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Organizations with outstanding or innovative processes for accomplishing missions may have developed an Air Education and Training Command or an Air Force Best Practice. A Best Practice is a process, practice or method that contributes to improved process performance. The sharing of Best Practices, provides methods to other AETC units to successfully accomplish similar missions. For a process to be nominated for a Best Practice it must first have an official review. "Processes nominated as a Best Practice are normally identified and reviewed by inspector general members, functional managers, organizational excellence assessors, auditors, awards reviewers, supervisors, or anyone authorized by the organization's leadership," said Ms. Elizabeth Vallery, AETC Best Practice Program manager. During the review process, several different areas are considered when determining whether a process is the best of the best. "A process is nominated as a Best Practice when that process is clearly superior compared to other organizations' and if the results are considered a breakthrough in efficiency and effectiveness," Ms. Vallery said. "Other factors considered are whether the practice incorporates the latest technology in its design and improves customer satisfaction." Once the process review is complete and it meets the requirements identified in Air Force Instructions, the next step is to complete and submit an Air Force Best Practice Record through the chain of command. Once approved, the record is forwarded to the installation manpower office. The installation manpower office reviews the Best Practice Record for accuracy and checks the Air Force Manpower Agency's Web site to ensure the process being recommended has not previously been identified as a Best Practice by another unit or installation. After verification, the record is submitted to the installation commander for signature. Once the installation commander signs the submission package, it is forwarded to Headquarters AETC Manpower, Personnel and Services directorate for validation. "When we receive Air Force Best Practice Records at the MAJCOM level, we forward them to the applicable functional career field managers for validation," Ms. Vallery said. "During the validation process, the functional managers will use their best judgment, experience and resources to determine if a practice is indeed worthy of Best Practice status. They also consider the impact the best practice has on resources, safety, security, readiness and the environment." Following validation, best practices are uploaded to the Air Force Best Practice Clearinghouse Web site at: https://www.my.af.mil/afknprod/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=A-DP-00-30. "AETC is one of the dominant participants in the Air Force Best Practice Program," said Mr. Howard Phillips, Air Force Best Practice Program manager. "In fact, more than 45 percent of the best practice submissions posted in the Air Force Best Practices Clearinghouse database were submitted by AETC." "If an organization determines it has a best practice candidate, it should work through their organization's chain of command, installation manpower office or contact the MAJCOM Best Practice Program manager," Mr. Phillips said. "These agencies will provide advice and can help in completing the required best practice documentation." For more information on the Air Force Best Practice Program, visit the Air Force Best Practice Community of Practice at https://www.my.af.mil/afknprod/community/views/home.aspx?Filter=A-DP-00-30 or call the AETC Best Practice Program manager at DSN 487-7485 or (210) 652-7485.