Lodgers to use new phone system

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Schaap
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 931st Air Refueling Group is getting a technology-based boost to the way its members receive lodging reservations for duty at McConnell AFB. 

Group leaders hope a new Automated Lodging Reservation System, which allows Airmen to make their own reservations via telephone, will be available by the start of 2009. It will be managed by Military Personnel Flight personnel. 

"We plan on advertising it on the December Unit Training Assembly and have it up by January," the MPF commander, Lt. Col. Kerry Lehman, said. "I'm sure we'll give everyone until probably February before it's a requirement to use it."

Finding a more efficient way to manage lodging became one of Col. Edsel A. "Archie" Frye's priorities after he took command of the 931st earlier this year. He only had to look as far his last unit, the 507th Air Refueling Wing at Tinker AFB, Okla.

The 507th started using the ALRS in 2005. Senior Airman Stephanie Heath has been managing it at Tinker since May of 2007. "It's really easy," Heath said, referring to how the system works.

Reservists eligible for provided lodging while on orders receive individual accounts and pin numbers for accessing the ALRS. They can then call a toll-free phone number to hear their lodging options during UTAs, annual training dates, etc. Airmen choose the option they like best and establish a reservation before hanging up.

With the ALRS, there is no need for Airmen to visit the base lodging office just to find out they will be lodging somewhere else. "They don't have to make two trips," Senior Master Sgt. Byron Godwin said.

Sergeant Godwin has been managing the 908th Airlift Wing's ALRS at Maxwell AFB, Ala., since 2000. Two years prior, the 908th was the first Air Force Reserve Command unit to test the ALRS. Wing members have been "very happy" with the system ever since, he said.

Sergeant Godwin described the 908th's previous method for scheduling lodging, which mirrors the 931st's current system, as "a nightmare" to manage. The ALRS makes life easier not just for Reservists, but especially for lodging managers and unit leadership. It's more efficient and cost-effective.

"It's unbelievable the amount of work it takes away," he said.

Both Airman Heath and Sergeant Godwin stressed the accountability that the system provides. If a Reservist does not show up for a UTA, for example, a commander or first sergeant can use the ALRS to immediately track if and where the Reservist made or canceled a reservation.

Airman Heath uses the 507th UTA calendar to contract lodging as early as she can, giving Reservists the ability to make reservations for UTAs as much as a year in advance through the ALRS. But not all lodging needs can be processed through the automated system, especially when Reservists receive last-minute and/or long-term orders.

That's why, Airman Heath said, the phone system has a built-in option Reservists may select to connect directly with lodging personnel. An instructional wallet card that 507th members receive also helps with getting to and navigating the system. "As long as they have the 800 number," she said, "they are good to go."