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Wing to be first AFRC unit to undergo new inspection process

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Bobby Pilch
  • 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. --  Inspections as we know them are no more. The 315th Airlift Wing is gearing up for a completeoverhaul of the Air Force Inspection System and a visit from higher headquarters Inspector General personnel Dec. 5-11 to gage the status of our Commander's Inspection Program.

The Uniform Effectiveness Inspection is a new concept for the Air Force and the 315 AW will be the first Air Force Reserve Command wing to go through the inspection process focusing on the following four major graded areas; executing the mission, managing resources, improving the unit and leading people.

The UEI more closely resembles how the Air Force operates and how resources are utilized in today's military environment.

Col. Terry Lawrence, 315 AW special assistant to the commander, briefed wing leadership during Saturday's Unit Training Assembly on details surrounding the new evaluation and inspection concept.

When referencing former inspections methods such as the Operational Readiness Inspections and others, Lawrence said, "That's not how we operate and inspect anymore, we do not prepare for this [UEI]."

Why the change?

According to Lawrence's briefing, the old inspection processes were not efficient and unsustainable in a current and future resource environment. The UEI will do away with 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.

Additionally, the old methods did not provide senior leadership with the performance data they need to make informed decisions.

What is involved?

The December UEI is referred to as a "capstone event" that culminates a two-year continuous UEI evaluation of wing performance on the four major graded areas and validates and verifies the Commander's Inspection program - a key component of the new Air Force inspection system.

Individual and group interviews consisting of all ranks will also be conducted to aid in evaluating unit's strength and compliance related items. Interviewees can expect questions relating to quality of work life, home life and items they would like to change in the Air Force. Information exchanged in these interview sessions will be treated anonymously and protected.

After the capstone event, a final report will be drafted that produces an independent assessment of discipline, effectiveness, efficiency and readiness.

Going forward

"We are building a brand new inspection program that is continuous 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," said Col. James Fontanella, 315 AW Commander. "December is merely an inspection that checks to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to."