Altus Air Force Base News

 

DRMO, saving your office money

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Clark
  • Altus Air Force Base Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It’s inevitable: extra chairs migrate to a back room with the unused computer equipment and empty filing cabinets until they pile up so much it’s hard to move. There comes a time for most offices and shops when they realize how much unused stuff they have acquired over the years.

Luckily, the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office will not only help declutter, but save money by finding a new home for unused items.

“We’re the office who receives all the unused furniture and equipment from the wing,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jorge Guerrero, 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron, flight service center journeyman. “With all the items we receive, we will then be able to offer them to others on base that may be able to use them or send it to Fort Sill, who has the ability to sell or destroy it.”

In an age of making every dollar count and the mindset of reduce, reuse, recycle, DRMO plays a key part.

From July-September of 2016, DRMO processed 5,500 items worth more than 4.8 million dollars which the Air Force was able to reuse directly or sell back to recover some of the cost of the item, said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Jefferson, 97th LRS, NCO in charge of flight service center. “Without us, the Department of Defense would be spending money on the same items.”

“Our main mission is to try to save the Air Force money and the government as a whole,” said Guerrero. “People can make appointments or check our shared drive on the portal that shows the base what we have to offer, that way they don’t have to spend any government funds.”

To take advantage of this offer, there is a simple process.

To turn in items, the customer must call and schedule an appointment, usually 45 days out due to high traffic, said Guerrero. “After completing and returning the forms we send, on the day of your appointment once everything is in our warehouse we will inspect it and decide if it’s in good enough condition to give out. If someone is looking for something particular they can just call and ask if we have the item in stock, if not, we will write your name down and the item you’re looking for and give you a call when something comes in.”

Although DRMO helps the base save money by reusing items, not everything that is turned into them is up for grabs.

“We also are responsible for handling hazardous material cabinets, flak-vests, and any other security forces related material,” said Guerrero. “Those items have to be sent to Fort Sill because they are the ones with the contract to handle those type of items.”

With its dedication of supplying the base with reusable equipment, DRMO is doing its part to help save the Air Force money.

“I like being able to help. Prior to working here, I didn’t realize how much money people could save just letting us provide them with printers, office chairs and desk,” said Guerrero. “Not everyone on base is aware we’re here so we want everyone to use us and be able to save some money.”