Army selects Yongsan as 2009 ACOE finalist

By Mr. David Mcnally (RDECOM)November 5, 2008

Army Communities of Excellence
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

<strong>YONGSAN GARRISON, Republic of Korea</strong> - Army officials announced top contenders in a competition to recognize excellence in installation management last month. U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan is one of seven finalists in the 2009 Army Communities of Excellence competition.

Army inspection teams are heading to seven garrisons in mid-November. The ACOE teams will be made up of individuals from garrisons throughout the Installation Management Command. They will interview key leaders, managers, customers and stakeholders, review documents and action plans.

"We recently concluded the internal selection board," wrote Col. Gregory Herring, IMCOM chief of staff in an e-mail announcement. "We are pleased to announce that we've selected the garrisons listed below as ACOE finalists."

Breaking with past competitions, the Army selected seven finalists instead of four. Three of the finalists are overseas garrisons in the Republic of Korea.

*<a href="http://yongsan.korea.army.mil/">USAG-Yongsan</a>

*<a href="http://ima.korea.army.mil/areaiv/sites/local/">USAG-Daegu</a>

*<a href="http://humphreys.korea.army.mil/">USAG-Humphreys</a>

*<a href="http://www.ftmeade.army.mil/">USAG-Fort Meade</a>

*<a href="http://www.stewart.army.mil/">USAG-Fort Stewart</a>

*<a href="http://www.bragg.army.mil/Garrison/sites/local/">USAG-Fort Bragg</a>

*<a href="http://www.knox.army.mil/IMA/sites/local/">Fort Knox</a>

Herring said the Army panel selecting the finalists consisted of five senior Baldridge examiners and judges from across private, non-profit and government organizations.

Malcom Baldridge is the corporate gold standard for recognizing organizational excellence. Judges use a set criteria to evaluate what processes are in place to better serve stakeholders and gain efficiencies.

"The ACOE Team will conduct a one-week site visit for Gold, Silver and Bronze Award nominees," Herring said.

USAG-Yongsan will host an ACOE inspection team Nov. 17-21.

"They will validate our ACOE submission, primarily looking for examples of the systems and processes that we highlighted," said Casey Ross, USAG-Yongsan Plans, Analysis and Integration chief. "They've already looked at our submission. This is a follow-up to look at us in more detail."

"This shows that USAG-Yongsan is still one of the top installations in the Army and we're doing the right thing in providing the the services our community needs," he said.

This is the second year in a row that USAG-Yongsan has been a finalist. The Garrison won $750,000 earlier this year as the 2008 ACOE Third Place Winner.

The 2009 contest will feature more winners. This contest will award $1 million the Gold. There will be two Silver awardees vying for $500,000 each. Three Bronze awardees will earn $250,000 each.

The 2009 ACOE contest will also offer cash prizes to three to six "most improved" garrisons. Competition in this category is between: <a href="http://garrison.pica.army.mil/pw/sites/local/">USAG-Picatinny Arsenal</a>; <a href="http://www.gordon.army.mil/garrfp/sites/local/">USAG-Fort Gordon</a>; <a href="http://www.campbell.army.mil/ima/sites/local/">USAG-Fort Campbell</a>; <a href="http://www.mccoy.army.mil/pw/sites/local/">USAG-Fort McCoy</a>; <a href="http://www.bamberg.army.mil/sites/local">USAG-Bamberg</a>; and <a href="http://www.usagschinnen.eur.army.mil/sites/local/">USAG Schinnen</a>.

"Congratulations to all the nominees," Herring said.

Related Links:

Yongsan claims $750K ACOE prize

Army Regulation 5-1: Total Army Quality Management

U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Flickr Site

Baldrige National Quality Award

U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan Official Site