KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 403rd Wing Inspector General Inspections office has a huge task with facilitating the commander’s inspection program, conducting exercises and validating the unit’s compliance in executing the mission, improving the unit, leading the people, and managing resources.
They can’t do it without help, which is why they rely on the Wing Inspection Team, or WIT.
According to Lt. Col. Sabrina Hawkins, 403rd Wing IGI officer and WIT chief, the purpose of the WIT is to augment their office with the execution of the commander’s inspection program referred to as the CCIP. Currently, Hawkins’ focus is building up that team through a series of training sessions held over the Feb. 4-6, Unit Training Assembly.
“What you do is very important,” said Lt. Col. Alisya Davis, 403rd Wing IG, during the Feb. 6 training to a new group of WIT members. “You are a direct reflection of how well we do on the Unit Effectiveness Inspection Capstone.”
A UEI is an ongoing virtual inspection throughout a 24-36 month cycle, which culminates in a Capstone visit where the Air Force Reserve Command IGI team evaluates how well the wing implements the CCIP.
According to Air Force Instruction, 90-201, Air Force Inspection System, the WIT is comprised of subject matter experts from various career fields throughout an organization who augment the Wing IGI in conducting inspections and exercises under the authority of the wing commander. In addition to serving as inspectors for their respective areas, they assist IGI with scenario development for exercises, evaluate those scenarios, provide input for reports, and validate self-assessments.
The WIT program currently consists of a handful of wing members, who Hawkins refers to as the “eyes and ears” of IGI.
“We can’t run the inspection programs for the wing alone, so it’s beneficial to use SMEs from the units to assess their programs,” said Hawkins. “They play a crucial role in providing critical and honest self-assessment of their unit’s performance to the commander, which is key to uncovering areas of undetected noncompliance. After all, the goal of AFIS is to look for these deficiencies so the wing can work to improve those areas.”
Master Sgt. Chasity Roush, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aviation resource management superintendent, took the WIT class Feb. 6 as part of her initial training. She said she’s excited to be part of the team.
“This is a great opportunity, which will not only help me grow as an Airman, but also will give me insight into the big picture of how the wing operates and to make a difference by identifying those areas we need to improve and to assist with coming up with ways to make our organization more efficient,” said Roush.
The WIT program isn’t new. It was developed as part of the AFIS in 2014. Hawkins stated that WIT help foster a culture of critical self-assessment and continuous improvement, a key component of the UEI.
“This (WIT program) gives our Reserve Citizen Airmen and opportunity to make a difference and bring about positive changes that can make the wing more efficient and shape its future,” said Hawkins.
The Wing’s next UEI capstone is Oct. 13-18.