Bomber Force Improvement Program Update Published Sept. 5, 2014 By Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm Commander, 8th Air Force BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Bomber Force Improvement Program is a monumental effort that will certainly bring much needed changes and improvements to our organizations and our entire Air Force. The Bomber FIP is moving along steadily and I want to keep everyone informed of our progress to keep everyone informed of our progress to date. The FIP team conducted 1,627 interviews, 4,443 surveys, 108 observations and 215 recommendations. Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson and I took three days to fully review the findings. Of the recommendations we reviewed, 92% of them were approved. We are dispatching multiple teams to our bases next week to cover Total Force Integration, Operations Training and Capabilities, Continuous Bomber Presence, Cruise Missile Equipment Sustainment, Aircraft Equipment Sustainment and Maintenance Mission Generation. In the coming days, I will provide guidance to this command to fix issues, clarify previous guidance and direct other actions to address the approved recommendations. In addition, 8th Air Force staff, along with the staffs at every level of this command, are undertaking the remaining recommendations. While we institute these changes in the coming months, we must continue to focus on our mission while taking care of our Airmen and their families.