Yokota continues inspection

by Airman 1st Class Soo C. Kim
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

3/5/2014 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Sirens blare in the distance, boots stomp the ground to safety and Airmen clad in chemical protection gear brace for impact in a shelter. A missile strikes the base, releasing deadly chemical agents.

It's not just a scene from the next war-themed movie, rather a simulated scenario performed by the Airmen of 374th Airlift Wing.

The Yokota Airmen continue their week-long Samurai Readiness Inspection at Yokota Air Base, Japan, March 5, 2014.

The SRI is a new Commander's Inspection Program to identify the Wing's strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to evaluate their units on their unique mission sets for effectiveness, compliance, readiness and discipline.

"With the assistance of our Wing Inspection Team members, (we received) "hands-on" experience by reinforcing positive processes and procedures, documenting our deficiencies and challenging our Airman to safely provide quality services and products to our customers," said Michael Sears, 374 LRS logistics manager. "Our process have been relatively smooth throughout (the inspection), we will continue to concentrate on "knocking off the rust."

Since the start of the inspection, Yokota has completed dozens of evaluations and scenarios, such as the ability to receive and deploy forces, aircraft mishap response, chemical warfare and executing expeditionary professional tactical airlift.

"The WIT has been able to identify both strengths and weakness from the SRI," said Capt. Gregory Kantz, 374 th AW director of inspections. "This is not a pass or fail; rather it's an opportunity for the commanders to get an honest assessment of their unit's performance across a wide range of activities."

The Yokota Airmen have been working days and nights, under difficult conditions, to prove that they can perform their duties and keep the regional stability in the Pacific theater.

"Overall, the WIT continues to be impressed with the professionalism and can-do attitude of our Airman," Kantz said. "We'll certainly identify areas in which we excel as well as others that may need some work and attention. At the end of the inspection, it'll be the spirit of our Airman that will take us to the next level."

The inspection is scheduled to continue through Friday, March 7, 2014.