CE teaches Airmen to save time, focus on important tasks with Robotics Process Automation courses

By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Marketing and Communication Director

BOSSIER CITY, La. — Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen are learning how to simplify tasks and save time for their important efforts thanks to Robotics Process Automation courses.

These courses give Airmen the essentials to set up RPA “bots” that would automate processes for their wing and the command. From automated Defense Travel System form checkers to laundry intake programs, Airmen learn to build automated programs that reduce everyday tasks from hours to minutes.

These courses are hosted by Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and the Collaborative Environment, the operator of a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the Cyber Innovation Center and AFGSC. They are sponsored by the AFGSC Office of the Chief Scientist.

“The goal is to automate those monotonous tasks to increase efficiency and save time for more valuable efforts,” said Kyle Branch, CE’s data analytics manager. “We want Airmen to learn from the experts and empower them at every level to make their missions and live easier.”

An RPA event was held at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, Oct. 24-27. A previous event ran from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 at the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Over the course of the four days at F.E. Warren AFB, 25 students from across the base learned what RPA is, how to recognize which of their business processes should be automated, and how to create and deploy bots using UiPath and the Orchestrator platforms. It is estimated that 400 manhours will be saved via this event. 

Col. John Dines, 90th Mission Support Group commander, pushed the spread of automation throughout workspaces and encouraged others to get on track with automating their tedious processes. 

A total of 14 bots were successfully completed or extremely close to completion by the end of the event. The bot creators are planning to move forward with future development plans, or upgrade the bots created within the class.

Another RPA event is scheduled for Jan. 24-27, 2023, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.