For the third time in as many years Fort Knox has participated and been recognized by the Army Communities of Excellence program.
The installation received the Bronze Award in 2009 along with $250,000, an honorable mention last year and an Exemplary Practice Award for 2011 which garnered $25,000 for the installation.
"The Garrison Plans, Analysis and Integration Office is the proponent for the Army Communities of Excellence Program, as well as implementation of the Installation Management Campaign Plan and (the) Fort Knox Garrison's Campaign Plan," said Sara Johnson, the director of PAIO. "These campaign plans reflect our leaders' vision and strategic imperatives with clear measurable terms for the activities that must occur on our installation to accomplish our mission.
"Every member of the garrison team has a part in mission accomplishment, and attaining the goals set forth by these plans."
Johnson said Col. Bruce Jenkins, the garrison commander, is committed to continually improving the installation and providing a Gold Standard service to all Soldiers, their Families and civilians. The installation has participated and supported the program and its continuous improvement since 1989.
"(Col. Jenkins) is confident that this is a resilient, innovative garrison team (that) will be competitive during 2013," said Johnson.
Johnson pointed out that the criteria for competition is the Campaign Plan Employee Assessment Survey which counts for 30 percent, the Campaign Plan Performance Metrics counts for 40 percent, the organizational profile which consists of a 20-page narrative is 30 percent and exemplary practice --a two-page narrative.
Although the installation didn't win in one of the higher categories, the exemplary practice category recognizes a best practice that results in an innovative improvement.
"The practice will improve the delivery of a product or service relevant to a Campaign Plan Line of Effort with applicability for IMCOM-wide adoption," explained Johnson.
Derek Avey, a PAIO plans specialist, said that installations are evaluated on the Army Performance Improvement Criteria that are similar to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards criteria, which is given for performance excellence in U.S. businesses.
"(The) criteria assesses the organization by rating leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce focus; process management and overall results," said Avey.
Johnson said there are several benefits to winning an ACoE Award which include achieving excellence and being recognized as a high-performing installation among stiff competition is the primary benefit.
"It is confirmation that we are doing a good job of meeting our installation charter to provide Soldiers, civilians and their Families with a quality of life commensurate with the quality of their service," Johnson said. "It validates that we are doing the right thing, and that we are indeed a Gold Standard Installation of Excellence.
"Winners receive a flag and trophy during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Benefits may also include monetary awards which are used to better the Fort Knox community and build on our well-being programs."
Knox's exemplary practice was Amnesty Day for hazardous materials and hazardous waste turn-in, a new initiative which focused on the Department of Public Works' Environment Management Divisions effort to collect unused, expired and/ or unserviceable hazardous waste and materials at a centralized and convenient location. Tim Pohlman and Brian Faber, environmental protection specialists, came up with the idea and it took the entire communities support to execute it.
Installation units and organizations welcomed and took advantage of the opportunity. The ultimate goal, which is effective management, included handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials and waste to ensure appropriate and necessary environmental stewardship and foster a safe working and living environment, while maximizing resources and reducing the cost of operations was achieved with great success.
" The effort resulted in $265,000 cost avoidance and collected 40,000 pounds of hazardous materials," explained Avey.
During Amnesty Day the post collected more than $41,500 of usable material for the free issue program, more than $94,023 in pollution prevention-related materials for redistribution to units across the installation, recycled more than 57,560 pounds of steel and plastic generating operating funds and landfill avoidance and saved more than 1,520 man hours in labor.
Johnson pointed out that the future victories depend upon local community members and installation resident units partnering with the installation and being good neighbors, attending installation events and maintaining communication with the garrison. This is not an individual award but recognition of the greater Fort Knox community.
"Every member of our workforce must know what Fort Knox is doing to take care of our Soldiers and their Families," Avey said. "Our customers and community are encouraged to provide timely feedback through the Interactive Customer Evaluation system or other information exchanges that can be used to improve a process, enhance performance excellence or to simply say 'Thank you.'"
He added that in the past Fort Knox has done its best by working with limited resources.
" (The installation has found) areas of fiscal improvement (and provided) additional well being offerings to the community, as well as provide a safe and secure work and living environment for our Soldiers, Families and civilians," he said.
"I have already seen improvement this year in many of the areas that were measured for the IMCP lines of effort," explained Johnson. "This is a true testament to how this garrison team will persevere and continue to deliver services while facing economic challenges with declining resources and personnel.
"This is a great installation --we do things every day to the Gold Standard to take care of Soldiers, Families and civilians and make this a great place to live, work and play."
Social Sharing