AF names Sheppard Outdoor Recreation the best

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tonnette Thompson
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Perhaps not many people at Sheppard give much thought to who keeps the pools clean, or the playground equipment in good condition, or the barbecue pits ready for their next user.

But those in charge of such tasks have recently been recognized for their work.
The 82nd Services Division's Outdoor Recreation of the 82nd Mission Support Group earned an Air Force Outdoor Recreation 5-Star Recognition Program Award Monday, earning four of the five possible stars in an annual evaluation.

The award was presented to Johnnie Phillips, director of the division, by 82nd MSG Commander Col. Steven McKay.

The Services Division ranked number one of the 30 bases that earned four stars.

"We scored 50 out of 55 possible points in staff management, 92 out of 100 in operations, 40 of 40 in financial and 92 out of 100 in contract management," said Cindy Perpich, the Services community support flight chief, offering examples of the squadron's ultimate high rating.

The Air Force Outdoor Recreation 5-Star Recognition Program evaluates services divisions Air Force-wide for compliance with standards, awarding those who excel in customer service, facility maintenance, programs, operations and planning. After evaluations by Air Education and Training Command personnel, covering everything from the division's risk management plan to the availability of brochures, the score sheets are sent to their MAJCOM for final determinations.

The Outdoor Recreations department offers equipment rentals, park reservations, outdoor trips, classes in horseback riding and mountain climbing, and hosts events at Lake Texoma, among many other features and programs.

"We rent to anyone with a military ID," said Earl Ellis, a recreational aide. "Recreational items, camping equipment, sports equipment; we have travel trailers, flatbed trailers, flat bottom boats - just about anything you might need to borrow to enjoy the outdoors."

"The average number of customers we get depends on the weather. Sometimes it's four to five people a week, others times it's 40-50 a week, so we've always got folks in here," Ellis said.

Outdoor Recreation's treatment of these customers earned them a 91 percent rating during the 5-Star evaluation.

"We earned 10 out of 10 for our customer feedback surveys, and with an annual average gross profit margin of 35 percent, we got 60," said Ms. Perpich. "And whenever a customer wants to suggest a new program for us, we do our best to make it happen. We plan to keep it up, because we're very proud of these numbers," she said.

For more information about services at Outdoor Recreation, call 676-4141.