JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 315th Airlift Wing successfully completed its first ever unit effectiveness inspection here Dec. 11 with an overall rating of "effective" after receiving two "effective" and two "highly effective" assessments in the inspection's four major graded areas.
"This visit by the Air Force Reserve Command Inspector General validates we are transitioning properly in our execution plan for the new Air Force Inspection System," Col. Fontanella said. "I was very confident that the men and women of the 315th would showcase our top-notch mission readiness and program management. As always, we continue to move the mission while the enterprise successfully transitions."
Of the four major categories the 315th AW received the following results:
· Managing Resources: EFFECTIVE
· Leading People: HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
· Improving the Unit: EFFECTIVE
· Executing the Mission: HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
The new process is considered a "capstone event" that culminates a two-year continuous evaluation of wing performance of four major graded areas and validates and verifies the Commander's Inspection program - a key component of the new Air Force inspection system.
"We are building a brand new inspection program that is continuous 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," said Fontanella. "This was merely an inspection to check and make sure we are doing what we are supposed to."
The UEI is a new concept for the Air Force and the 315th AW was the first Reserve wing to go through the inspection process.The old inspection processes were inefficient and were unsustainable in the current and future resource environment. The UEI will eliminate more than 100 inspections and 350 inspection days over a five year span for most wings. Units will no longer budget for large-scale surge efforts to accomplish exercises in preparation for a major one-time inspection.
When referencing former inspections methods such as the Operational Readiness Inspections and others during a prebriefing to wing members, Col. Terry Lawrence, special assistant to the commander said, "That's not how we operate and inspect anymore, we do not prepare for this [UEI]."
"The inspection paradigm focus also included an evaluation of the newly created IGI Office of the Inspector General's ability to assume inspection responsibilities once conducted by ARFC IG and AMC IG," said Lt. Col. Donna McNabb-Riley, 315th Airlift Wing Readiness officer. " With a majority of headquarters Air Force capable criteria met, the IGI office encourages: continuous unit self-evaluations, exercise evaluations with subject matter experts, accuracy in assessments, implementation of recommended improvements and commanders oversight in reporting."
The inspection spanned from Dec. 6 - 11 with about 40 members on the Air Force Reserve Command inspection team. The evaluation team analyzed the wing's Functional areas, interviewed wing members individually or in a group.
"I am extremely pleased that the IG recognized the 315th's mission execution capability," Fontanella added. "Additionally, we've shown our strong relationships with our JB Charleston partners further enhance the wing's success."
"Across the street," the Wing's Joint Base Charleston partners, 628th Airbase Wing and the 437th AW, were evaluated by a similar UEI team from Air Force Air Mobility Command.
"Many kudos and thanks to 315 AW team and our Joint Base Charleston partners for your outstanding efforts and support," McNabb-Riley added.
(Senior Airman Bobby Pilch contributed to this article)