Reserve unit breaks ice on new Air Force inspection program

by Capt. Cris Medina
433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

11/3/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND -- In the pre-dawn calm of a November morning, 433rd Airlift Wing members gathered outside Building 828 donning personal protective gear and preparing for transport to fictitious "Camp Bramble" to initiate Operation Ice Breaker.

Operation Ice Breaker marks the dawn of the newly revamped Air Force inspection system aimed at giving more power to wing commanders.

The program, which was established under Program Action Directive 13-01 and beta tested by United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, aims to empower wing commanders to run their wing's inspection system. By doing this, each commander will be able to focus on improving mission effectiveness, balancing resources and risks without the wasteful peaks and valleys of preparing for inspections.

The goal of the new system is to make inspections a non-event, part of the daily battle rhythm of continuous improvement, according to a July 2013 article by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs.

The main objective for Col. William W. Whittenberger Jr., 433rd AW commander, who led the first group on the Ability to Survive and Operate phase of the exercise, was measuring wing readiness.

"The overall purpose of the ice breaker was to confirm 433rd Airlift Wing readiness, capabilities and to train to proficiency when deficiencies were noted," said Whittenberger, emphasizing the wing's mission-readiness goals in a high tempo global-readiness environment.

"The 433rd has to assure to a combatant commander that the person we are sending to the AOR (Area of Responsibility) is ready. This (exercise) is the stepping off point to assure that," he said.

Lt. Col. Fred McMahon, 433rd Airlift Wing Inspector General Inspections and Readiness director, also emphasized the importance of mission readiness and the transition from the old Operation Readiness Exercise to the new Air Force Inspection System.

"Our goals were to meet the commander's expectations, identify efficiencies and areas of non-compliance" said McMahon.

The wing plans to conduct more training and inspection exercises in the near future to continue to prepare members for deployment requirements.