PACAF IG visits Osan for first UEI

by Senior Airman Siuta B. Ika
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/17/2014 - OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The Pacific Air Forces Inspector General team visited the base for the 51st Fighter Wing's first Unit Effectiveness Inspection Capstone event March 9-14.

This was the first time the IG team visited the base since the new Air Force Inspection System, Air Force Instruction 90-201, was published in August 2013.

"We're here to validate and verify that the wing commander's inspection program is developing to meet readiness and compliance requirements, and we've seen a lot of great things," said Col. David Van der Veer, PACAF IG. "Under the new system, (the PACAF IG team) is responsible for conducting one on-site inspection every 24 months in the UEI process, known as the Capstone event, but the wing will actually be in the UEI cycle for 24 months."

The IG team inspected the wing on the four major graded areas under the AFIS - managing resources, leading people, improving the unit, and executing the mission - with the wing earning an overall "Effective" rating.

"The inspectors noted our many strengths and highlighted our shared focus, outstanding support to our community and tenants, realistic and creative exercises, excellent maintenance and logistic support to flying units, proficiency in combat operations, and world class medical care and logistics," said Col. Brook Leonard, 51st FW commander. "So what do we do now? We take this feedback just like we would do at the end of an exercise and digest it and use it to improve. We must keep getting better at learning about each other and the mission, listening to each other's issues and ideas, and looking for our edge... our maximum capacity, and making ourselves better."

Part of the new inspection system includes the IG team conducting group and individual meetings, which allows the inspectors to hear first-hand how issues are being handled at work centers across the wing. This, Van der Veer said, will help reverse some of the negative trends occurring around the Air Force.

"I think a lot of what we're seeing is Airmen are trying to do the best they can with what they have and whether there's internal or external pressures, Airmen need to have the courage to step up and say something's wrong, or say they don't comply in a certain area," Van der Veer said. "We don't want to fear noncompliance but we don't want people to go 'Well I need to get through this inspection so I'm going to check mark that we're complying with this and hope an inspector doesn't find it.' I think we need the integrity as Airmen to embrace accountability and take ownership of the system, because they're our eyes when they're filling out those inspection checklists."

In the current Air Force culture, units are accustomed to preparing for their inspection before it happens. The concept behind changing the inspection process is that units will remain mission-ready 100 percent of the time with or without inspectors being present.

"The great part about the system is it put the ownership compliance and readiness squarely in the commander's hands," Van der Veer said. "Before when we did an (operational readiness inspection or unit compliance inspection) it was a snapshot in time of that unit's readiness. So if the jets weren't 100 percent ready to go and you couldn't generate enough planes to meet the air tasking order it was a tough inspection to pass. Now it's like a portfolio, not just single snap shots."

No matter what type of inspection, the 51st FW must focus on the little things and team work, Leonard said.

"That is what this AFIS is about...we are all inspectors and instructors, it takes all of us working as a team, and we must continue to prioritize readiness and respect," he said. "Overall, we are winning, but cannot sit on our lead. We will continue to do large force drills and exercises every other month, do smaller part task training events, and have fun as a team and family. I am also really excited about our upcoming efforts to focus on some key goals and increase involvement across the wing."