TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- At the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, people are a priority; a top priority. And, concern for their professional and personal well-being is part of the 2011 OC-ALC Strategic Plan.

"Develop and Care for People to Enable Success," the second strategic goal, was introduced in late October at the State of the ALC presentation. Though the goal is officially "owned" by Maj. Gen. David Gillett, OC-ALC commander, the three objectives are managed by the OC-ALC Personnel Directorate and the 72nd Air Base Wing.

"Goal two is about people. We need people with the right skills, the right opportunities and the right leadership," General Gillett said. "This year we will continue to build on our effort to develop leaders, but we also have set our sights on making dramatic improvements in safety through the Voluntary Protection Program. We will need everyone's commitment to achieve these very significant improvements, but the payoff is well worth the effort."

"Develop, Educate, Equip and Train the Work Force," is managed by OC-ALC/DP. There are three focus areas to the objective: Open and Credible Communication, Fair and Equitable Opportunities and Actively Appreciate Employees. To support the objective and strengthen the work force, there are a handful of new and ongoing programs in place.

Tinker AFB Junior Force Council encourages junior federal service employees and military members to get together, problem-solve issues and discuss them with senior leadership. The OC-ALC Intermediate Leadership Development Program enables senior leaders to identify mid-level management personnel that are ready for local career-broadening assignments. Also, the Supervisor Development Program trains potential managers before they are put into first-level supervisory positions.

Additionally, the personnel directorate is changing its hiring process to cut the time down to 80 days and allowing managers to be more involved in the process.

Laura Young, OC-ALC/DP Manpower and Personnel deputy director, said the new process will be more welcoming to newcomers.

"There are a number of programs and opportunities that support the objective that people just need to be aware of," said Bill Swigert, OC-ALC/DP director. "And really, the responsibility for open and credible communications, fair and equitable opportunities and actively appreciating employees is not just a personnel or DP program, those are management responsibilities. DP is in the position to help administer and facilitate those things, but it's really management and employee responsibilities."

Col. Bob LaBrutta, 72nd ABW commander, said the wing has its own "commander-intent document" that outlines metrics, to achieve goals and objectives that are in direct alignment with the OC-ALC strategic plan and the second goal.

"I believe having a vision, mission, objectives and metrics is vitally important for high-performing organizations," the colonel said. "In order for units and the work force to excel, you have to know where you're going, what's expected and how well you are performing."

Within the "Develop and Care for People to Enable Success" goal, the 72nd ABW is responsible for objectives "Ensure a Safe and Healthy Work Environment" and "Support Our People and Their Families."

Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment is primarily achieved through the 72nd ABW Safety Office. Using VPP as a framework for the goal, the OC-ALC has excelled in reducing injuries and accidents over the past three years.

The Safety Office is also charged with achieving "Employee Safety," the second Breakthrough Performance Area. Designed as focus areas to enable strategic goal owners to broaden their problem-solving skills, BPAs were introduced at the State of the ALC presentation.

The BPA has one immediate and one future goal: "All sites at or below peer industry standards for injury and illness rates" in fiscal 2011, and "all sites at half industry standards over the next five years."

To achieve the breakthrough goal, Lt. Col. Aaron Troxell, 72nd ABW/SE chief, and the seven OC-ALC VPP sites have researched the Total Case Incident Rate and Days Away, Restrictions and Transfers' statistics within their organizations by comparing their specific industry with commercial counterparts.

In addition, by asking each VPP site to determine their most frequent injury, they can examine the root cause and take steps to reduce it. By focusing efforts and resources on reducing an organization's one or two most common injuries at a time, Tinker will make a dramatic difference in employee safety.

"We're confident through the safety office's leadership, and our organizations and our people on board, together we are going to meet those targets," Colonel LaBrutta said.

To support people and their families, the wing has outlined eight objectives, including "Maintaining an Active and Robust Sponsorship program," "Focusing programs and efforts on deployed members' families," and "Fully complying with environmental, safety, fire and health program requirements."

Moreover, the other aspect of the objective, Colonel LaBrutta said, directly aligns with what OC-ALC/DP is doing. The civilian work force will use the DP professional development and training programs, and military members are highly encouraged to further their professional and off-duty education pursuits.

"We need our civilians, enlisted and officer professionals to understand they're in a competition. In order to compete in today's environment, they have to perform at the highest levels and they must have all the squares filled," Colonel LaBrutta said. "Professional military education and advanced academic degrees are critical elements that our work force needs to incorporate into their portfolios."

With everyone working together for the greater goal, the colonel said achieving the second strategic goal is achievable.

"The 72nd Air Base Wing Wildcatters are all in," Colonel LaBrutta said. "We're going to do everything we can to support the boss' strategic plan for fiscal 2011. He's given us the ball and we're going to run with it as hard as possible because he's counting on us to drive success in the installation at large."