VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg has an array of resources at its disposal. Among these assets are the Government Motor Vehicles, Team V personnel use every day for their respective jobs. Constantly in use, it can be tempting every once in a while to take a quick trip in a GMV to handle personal affairs.
Charged with safeguarding a variety of resources, the 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations section plays a key role in managing appropriate GMV usage.
“The Logistics Readiness Squadron is responsible for running the installation GMV misuse program,” said Lt. Col. Alfredo Laboy, 30th LRS commander. “Suspected vehicle misuses are reported to the vehicle operations section of the LRS. Vehicle operations will collect the information and conduct a technical assessment of the incident to determine if regulatory official use may have been violated.”
These violations usually occur during a trip that is non-mission related and more of a personal activity.
“Proper GMV use is basically anything that will get the mission done,” said Senior Airman Kevin Betts, 30th LRS vehicle operator. “They’re not to be used for personal convenience. Say that you’re tired and you need an energy drink, you can’t just swing by the Shoppette and purchase one. It has to be mission essential.”
Members on Temporary Duty Assignment, with no other option than a GMV, are authorized to pick-up essential meals. Additionally, under the authorization of the installation Commander, base emergency responders may use their vehicles to pick-up food at pre-approved facilities on base. Improper usage of GMVs can have lasting effects on the vehicles – hampering an essential resource which is used to complete many daily missions.
"We're paying for these vehicles at the end of the day," said Master Sgt. Anthony Dudley, 30th LRS vehicle operations section chief. "If you're using GMVs in a manner other than the acquired intent, then we may be creating a perception to the public that GMVs leased or rented are potentially not needed to perform daily mission requirements."
Despite occasional fluctuations to established regulations, LRS leadership is confident in the vehicle operators’ ability to ensure proper GMV use.
“My vehicle operators manage this program extremely well,” said Laboy. “They understand that when our AFI is revised it can drive major changes to overall doctrine for official use of GMVs, which could potentially spike a rise on misuses.”
Vehicle operations members hope to provide an informative and educational platform to help Team V further understand these regulations.
“I’ve tasked them with drafting a vehicle misuse prevention proposal with an overall goal of educating Team V personnel on the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ while operating a GMV,” said Laboy. “As the Wing Misuse Prevention monitors, our charge goes beyond just reporting misuses. We need to look at this from a leadership perspective and find all available avenues to educate all personnel so that we can reduce the number of misuses on Vandenberg.”
Overall, the collective efforts of commanders and members across Team V are essential to reducing misuses and their efforts directly contribute to three of the four Major Graded Areas during inspections.
“From a compliance perspective as part of the Air Force Inspection System, commanders and leadership teams of Vandenberg’s host and tenant units greatly benefit from effectively messaging authorized official GMV use to their assigned members,” said Maj. Fleming Jeffers, 30th LRS director of operations. “Approaching this with the overall intent of harnessing discipline in compliance, pride, and accountability of government-owned property, we are better able to lead our people in managing resources, which thereby improves our units.”
For more information about GMV rules and regulations, contact the 30th LRS operator and licensing office at 805-606-5771.