UCA begins at Buckley

Published Dec. 2, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Nicholas Rau
460th Space Wing Public Affairs

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- A unit climate assessment kicks off Dec. 2 for all 460th Space Wing team members to give their opinions on the morale of their unit and address any issues or concerns they currently have.

The UCA is designed to assist unit commanders at all levels in assessing their unit's human relations climate and to allow members of the unit to make recommendations for improvement.

"The survey portion of the UCA consists of 46 standard Air Force questions and up to 10 additional locally developed questions from the commander," explained Tech. Sgt. Lee Smith, 460th SW Equal Opportunity Office. "The survey has eight areas assessed: cohesion and pride, motivation and morale, supervisory support, perceived discrimination, overt discriminatory behaviors, command EO policy, sexual assault prevention and response, and commanders' locally developed questions.

"Based on how members answer all the questions, those results are analyzed and calculated to give a snapshot of the entire climate for that squadron. This affords the commander the opportunity to address the concerns within the squadron. At the end of the day, you cannot fix what you do not know is broken; the UCA is an opportunity to get some things potentially fixed," Smith added.

The survey, which is completely anonymous, can be answered from any computer with internet access and takes about 20 minutes to complete. There are no restrictions on the amount of characters used to respond in any designated section.

"Members that voluntarily participate in the UCA have a unique opportunity to bring forth concerns that they may have to the highest level possible within that squadron," Smith said. "Therefore, answering honestly will reflect the true climate for that squadron. The UCA provides a snapshot of the squadron, thus potentially increasing the opportunity for things to change."

Regardless of how a member answers the UCA questions, there will be no repercussions for their opinions. Members who are uncomfortable with talking openly about their concerns will have the opportunity to address these during the UCA.

"In my years within the military, I have found that not everyone is comfortable going and talking to their commander or first sergeant about concerns they have," Smith stated. "The UCA gives members that option, all the while being anonymous during the entire process."

UCA begins 2013