Madison Air National Guard unit ranked among best in nation

Date: December 21, 2010

The 115th Fighter Wing has proven it is among the best in the nation at doing what it takes to be ready for whatever mission it faces.  The Madison-based Wisconsin Air National Guard unit earned a nearly perfect rating during a Unit Compliance Inspection at Truax Field Dec. 10-15. Sixty inspectors from the Air Combat Command's Inspector General team, Langley Air Force Base, Va., observed nearly 1,100 Airmen and inspected every unit on base.

The team observed and graded more than 600 tasks during their five-day evaluation in Madison. The final grade was a 99.5 percent compliance rating - the highest in 115th Fighter Wing history.

"I knew the outstanding Airmen of the 115th would rise to the top, as they always do. I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of them," said Brig. Gen. Joseph Brandemuehl, 115th Fighter Wing commander. "We welcome external inspection teams to our base. It gives us the opportunity to highlight that our Airmen and our processes are among the best in the country."

The Inspector General team travels to Air Force installations across the country to evaluate how a unit complies with laws, executive orders and applicable policies, regulations and instructions while performing their day-to-day mission.

In 2005, the unit earned a 99.4 percent compliance rating - the highest score at the time in Air Force history.

Excellence was documented across the base as eight subordinate units were recognized as "superior teams" and 58 Airmen were recognized as "superior performers."

Results like these are welcome news but not surprising to many of the 115th Fighter Wing members whose motto is "Dedicated to Excellence." Recently, the 115th became the second Air National Guard base in the country to earn the "Star" rating in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program - adding to a list of accomplishments that, Wing leaders say, sets the unit among the best in the nation.