MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- It’s no secret that one of the hardest parts about being in the military is uprooting one’s life and moving to a new and unfamiliar base.
For more than 1,500 Airmen and families who become a part of Team Moody annually, this transition will be smoother with the creation of Moody’s new system designed to welcome new Airmen and their families.
“We revamped our newcomers program in order to better connect Airmen and their families to missions at Moody, as well as our community partners in Valdosta and Lowndes County,” said Col. Thomas Kunkel, 23d Wing commander. “My goal is to inspire our new Airmen and their families so that Moody isn't just another Air Force assignment but the best experience of their Air Force careers.”
First impressions can be lasting impressions, not only for Airmen new to the base, but for their families as well.
The new system, referred to as “on-boarding,” starts within the first 72 hours after airmen receive their assignment to Moody. The 23d Force Support Squadron designed a call center that will make contact, have the family fill out a questionnaire, and a team of experts will determine the Airmen’s needs.
“I will tell you that from my perspective, [Airmen] are not sitting around waiting for their sponsor to call and start answering questions,” said Maj. Brandon Wengert, 23d Force Support Squadron commander. “You’re on google within an hour trying to figure out where to rent houses and all of that stuff. By the time your sponsor engages with you, you’ve already spent hours and hours of your time self-researching.”
Previously, the system focused more on inprocessing the Airmen after they arrived, whereas the new system focuses on preparing them for the move and making them feel welcomed before they even arrive. Each Airman is assigned a Moody ambassador, who is responsible for providing them with information such as housing locations, local education opportunities and leisure activities.
“Before, you were making real-life decisions without ever talking to a person,” Wengert added. “So … you may have rented or leased a house in an area that doesn’t have internet or it doesn’t fall within a desired school district.”
Wengert hopes this new process will create ambassadors whose initial pitch is in line with the wing commander’s vision, and in turn create excitement about coming to Moody.
“The initial phone call changes everything,” added Wengert.
“The best example I have is that when a kid goes off to college and they want to go and tour a college, the college doesn’t let just any college student tour them,” said Wengert. “They have predetermined ambassadors, who understand the college and are prepared to give the pitch. So we wanted to make sure the initial contact was through a predetermined ambassador to Moody who understands the spectrum of what we do.”
Lastly, the on-board process will wrap up with a cultural immersion where Airmen and their families will have a mission brief, breakfast with leadership, and base tour.
While the program is still in its infancy, Moody leadership is excited about the upgrades to the system and believe that when Airmen and their families are taken care of the mission excels.