2013 Community Assessment Survey begins today Published April 10, 2013 Tinker Community Support Coordinator TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- "A Strong Community Depends on You" is the theme of the 2013 Air Force Community Assessment Survey, which begins today. Through the survey, sponsored by the Air Force Integrated Delivery System Team, officials seek opinions and needs of the entire Air Force community including active duty members, reservists, Air National Guardsmen, their spouses and civilian employees. "Everything we do depends on our people, the living engine of the Air Force," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "The entire Air Force leadership team is committed to doing all we can to support our Total Force Airmen and their families. We know that through your valuable input, the state of our Air Force will remain strong, ready and capable of delivering airpower, whenever and wherever the nation calls." The survey will be completely anonymous -- neither the Air Force, the government, nor the contractor can link any aspect of community members' responses to personal identifiable information. The results will be used by base leadership and the Air Force to target resources where they are most needed, to improve the delivery of community services and to enhance the well-being of community members. "The Community Assessment Survey 2013 provides Team Tinker community members a powerful opportunity to improve the Air Force community," said Col. Steve Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander. "Those selected will make a difference, so we hope they commit to responding to the survey as quickly and as thoroughly as possible." Past survey findings have resulted in providing additional services and programs to benefit both service members and families. At Tinker, results from past Air Force Community Assessments have impacted the policies and programs that support families, including: · Targeted evaluation and increased availability of healthy food options. · More targeted programs for active duty fitness test improvement and injury rehabilitation · Community collaboration to take care of family needs (promoting 211 services, partnerships with local chambers of commerce and Operation Homefront) · Single Airman initiatives · Free recreation activities and events · Beta testing a 24-hour access fitness facility · Resilience training (positive coping skills) offered in military/civilian PMEs and unit trainings throughout the installation Active duty members, reservists, Air National Guardsmen and appropriated-fund civilian employees will receive email invitations to complete the survey. Postcards will be mailed to spouses inviting them to complete the survey also. Each invitation will include a link to the online survey. For more information about the Community Assessment Survey, call Karen Blackwell at 736-3215 or email karen.blackwell@tinker.af.mil.