New SharePoint site makes budget cuts easier

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Douglas Ellis
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Team Moody recently created a new SharePoint site to advertise excess equipment items and potentially save Moody thousands of dollars that can be used to pay for training opportunities and other mission related spending requirements.

The 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron Repurposing SharePoint site is a single location for anyone to post items they no longer need so other organizations can pick them up for their own use.

"The idea is that the site functions as a sort of "Craigslist" website where units can post items for the taking," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Rodriguez, 23d LRS commander. "If units see an item they need, they would simply call the point of contact on the posting and arrange a time to receive it."

The site is located on the 23d Wing SharePoint website. Once in the SharePoint, click on the 23d Mission Support Group tab, then click 23d LRS and finally select the repurpose effort tab.

Gen. Philip Breedlove, former vice chief of staff of the Air Force and now currently the Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, sent out a memo in June of 2012 challenging commanders at all levels to create local savings by reutilizing surplus items instead of buying new items with a government purchase card. By reutilizing existing assets instead of buying brand new items, it is hoped that the cost expenditures to the Air Force will reduce significantly and, in turn, save the Air Force money and make budget cuts less challenging.

"In these times of cost consciousness, we are taking all practical actions to achieve our efficiency commitments and live within our fiscal constraints," said Breedlove. "One efficiency area that requires action is identifying surplus supplies in individual units and creating local savings by repurposing them. This will allow the Air Force to act on reductions already taken across all Air Force GPC accounts."

Rodriguez took on this initiative and worked with other squadrons on Moody to create the SharePoint site.

The site is intended to be used for normal equipment items like chairs, cabinets and other items that would normally be found in a Government-wide Purchase Card catalog. Computer equipment, aircraft parts and anything that is accountable on a custodian account should not be posted on the site.

After items have been given away, the posts will be moved to a folder that tracks what has been given away and how much money Moody has saved.

"This idea will hopefully save the Air Force a significant amount of money because a squadron can pick up barely used items for free as opposed to spending dollars they don't have," said Rodriguez.

The SharePoint site was also designed to be user friendly. It will have a link on the home page with step by step instructions on how to use the site.

"I think it's a very simple system to use," said Anthony Brantley, 23d LRS chief of customer service. "Even the individual who is not computer savvy should have no problem using this program."

With maximum participation, squadrons at Moody will be able to use their saved money on temporary duty assignments instead of furniture and other supplies, meaning more training opportunities for Airmen.

"I think this program will have a big impact here at Moody," said Brantley. "If everyone uses the program, it has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars."