EAFB garners Highly Effective rating in mission execution under new inspection format

by Steven J. Merrill
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

4/29/2014 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The Air Combat Command Inspector General team has tallied the results of its Unit Effective Inspection of the base April 13-18 and rated it as effective overall.

The IG team measured how well the base performed in four major graded areas: leading people, management of resources, executing missions and improving the unit. Inspectors rated Ellsworth as highly effective in executing missions - one of the first installations to receive the rating under the new inspection system in any category - and effective in the three other areas.

"This very much validates the wing's ability to provide expeditionary combat power anywhere on the globe," said Col. Kevin Kennedy, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "Every member of Team Ellsworth can be proud of the marks the base received."

The inspection results are graded on a tier grading scale: Outstanding, Highly Effective, Effective, Marginally Effective, and Ineffective. The new inspection system is designed to foster a culture of critical self-assessment, continuous improvement and to reduce the reliance on external inspection agencies.

Kennedy said the base can take pride in the outcome of the inspection, adding it provides a strong launching point to continue to seek out ways to accomplish the mission even more effectively and efficiently.

"This is not something that is over and forgotten," he said. "We had a large number of Airmen and sections recognized as superior performers, and we had a few areas where we can do better. That should be our focus: continued high performance in our strong areas and strengthen areas that need more attention."

Lt. Col. Barry Hutchison, 28th BW Inspector General Inspection chief, said the new inspection format ensures the base continuously tracks and evaluates all of its processes - a healthy way of doing business.

"Under the old system, the wing would schedule multiple practice exercises over a year to 18 months in order to prepare for an operational readiness inspection," Hutchison said. "We would spend months creating and cleaning up self-inspection checklists in order to 'pass' a unit compliance inspection. In either situation, processes and capabilities that weren't directly tied to the upcoming inspection took a backseat."

Hutchison noted that now, the wing commander can align a periodic inspection sampling strategy with his strategic plan and the core competencies that make up the wing's entire mission set.

"This allows tailored preparation for people or units preparing to go to combat and prevents atrophy of our remaining capabilities," he said. "Wing units can reduce wasted effort by integrating continual compliance into their day-to-day procedures."

Ellsworth was the first ACC base to be inspected after meeting all 16 Commanders Inspection Program-capable threshold criteria directed by Headquarters Air Force. Therefore, according to Hutchison, the wing has the most mature CCIP evaluated by the ACC/IG team.

"Only time will validate our sustained compliance structure, but this report shows we're on the right track," he said.