Taking Army Readiness Assessment Program survey benefits entire garrison

ANSBACH, Germany (July 28, 2014) -- Starting Aug. 4, the garrison will initiate the Army Readiness Assessment Program, or ARAP, survey. What is ARAP? ARAP is a management tool that provides commanders with information on their unit's readiness posture by sampling five key areas: process auditing, reward systems, quality control, risk management, and command and control.

The ARAP survey consists of 63 questions, broken down into 61 multiple choice and two open-ended questions. The survey may be completed online for those who have government computer access. For personnel -- both military and civilian -- who do not have computer access, the survey will be available in hardcopy. Additionally, hardcopy will be available for local-national personnel who prefer to complete the survey in German.

"All Soldiers, U.S. and local-national employees assigned or employed by USAG Ansbach are encouraged to complete the survey," said Col. Christopher M. Benson, garrison commander. "Whether you take the survey online or complete it manually, it is completely anonymous. Therefore, you have an opportunity to express yourself candidly without fear of reprisal.

"Whether you're a child care provider working in a Child, Youth and School Services facility, a military police Soldier patrolling our streets, a plumber or carpenter completing a work request, or working in a garrison support office, I encourage you to take some time to complete this survey," Benson continued.

"While safety and risk management are everyone's responsibility, they are a team effort. Each member of the garrison is directly responsible for the success of our safety program, and the ARAP survey helps us to 'see ourselves' by helping us identify where we need to strengthen our efforts to improve our safety posture," said Benson.

For those taking the survey, let's take a few minutes to answer the top three questions:

-- What's in for me? Last year, the survey was used to help identify training needs and focus the direction of the garrison safety program. It's your chance to help strengthen our safety program.

-- How long will it take to complete the survey? The survey takes approximately 10 to 12 minutes to complete online. For those completing the survey manually, it may take 15 to 25 minutes.

-- How do I complete the survey? The safety staff will disseminate the directions for accessing the survey, which will include the password to complete the survey and the website address. For those directors and special staff officers who need a hardcopy of the survey, the safety staff will furnish and collect the survey upon request.

"Our goal for the survey is 100 percent contact," said EJ Singleton, garrison safety manager. "We need 70 percent participation of garrison personnel to complete the survey. We're interested in what you have to say, and ARAP is a tool to help us strengthen our garrison safety program."

"Your feedback is critical in ensuring a safe work environment," said Benson. "The safety of our employees is always a top priority and everyone has a responsibility to identify areas needing attention. Thanks for participating in the survey and keeping our workforce safe! I look forward to receiving your feedback."