IG rates 403rd Wing "Effective"

  • Published
  • By Maj. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 403rd Wing successfully completed its second unit effectiveness inspection here March 8 with an overall rating of "Effective."

About 50 inspectors and augmentees from the Air Force Reserve Command Inspector General Office visited Keesler Air Force Base March 3-8 to evaluate the wing's mission effectiveness, efficiency and readiness.

Of the four major graded areas, the wing scored "Effective" in managing resources, leading people, improving the unit and executing the mission.

Inspectors met with 403rd Wing members in various organizations to determine unit performance. The current UEI construct was implemented in 2013, and was designed to replace major operational readiness and compliance inspections, such as OREs and ORIs, and do away with units 'ramping up' for inspections, said Lt. Col. Allyson Chauvin, 403rd Wing director of inspections

According to AFI 90-201, the Air Force Inspection System is designed to foster a culture of critical self-assessment and continuous improvement, providing a "photo album" versus a "snapshot" view of wing effectiveness.

"The intent of AFIS is for us to self-inspect, report our findings and fix deficiencies," said Chauvin. "When headquarters comes here for a Capstone and validates what we've already found, that's something we can feel good about - it takes honesty and integrity to run an effective inspection program. Of course there will be some things units will miss. The Inspection team finds those areas of undetected noncompliance and fixing those areas will make us even better."

During the UEI, the AFRC IG team performed spot checks and Airman-to-IG individual and group sessions to determine climate assessment, said Chauvin.

Senior Master Sgt. Brett Blanchard, 403d Force Development superintendent, went to a group session. He found the experience to be beneficial, but wished they had more time to spend with the inspectors who were compiling information about the wing's top 5 issues, he said.

"They spoke to one-third of the wing to collectively gather information as to what areas need improvement, and hopefully we can improve those areas, funding permitted," said Blanchard.

"The headquarters inspectors' role is to identify areas we need to improve, and it's normal to have improvement areas, and we have some areas that need to be corrected," said Chauvin. "The wing did well overall, and we are effective in all the graded areas and in accomplishing our mission."

The wing's last UEI capstone event was completed Jan. 13, 2013, and was also scored "effective" overall.

The next UEI Capstone event is scheduled for 2018.

"AFIS is a great system and our Airmen are doing a great job changing the old inspection culture by reporting, developing fixes when possible and elevating issues," said Chauvin.