Team Edwards puts on outstanding display of logistics abilities for AFMC inspectors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William A. O'Brien
  • 95th Air Base Wing
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Edwards demonstrated their commitment to compliance during an Air Force Materiel Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Team during logistics inspections on various units throughout the base from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4.

"What we're here to do is perform a balanced, fair and thorough evaluation for leadership and foster two-way communication," said Col. Rich S. Marks, AFMC LCAT team chief. "And in the end, provide an accurate and value-added report for leadership here to help improve their mission."

The LCAT team uses a five-tier scale that rates from highest to lowest: Outstanding, Excellent, Satisfactory, Marginal and Unsatisfactory. During the out brief, the LCAT team told Team Edwards its inspection performance was outstanding.

The inspectors evaluated various 95th Air Base Wing and 412th Test Wing facilities along with the Air Force Research Laboratory Detachment 7.

"This was a focused inspection," said Nancy Zimmerman, 95th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs Office. "This was not as broad as a Unit Compliance Inspection or an Operational Readiness Inspection. This was focused on the evaluation of our logistical processes."

The inspections were composed of various aspects including personal evaluations, where an inspector watched technicians perform a task and evaluated their ability to perform moderate functions of their job. Inspectors also used quality-verification inspections, which has the inspector evaluating a task that has already been completed to evaluate the end-work of technicians. The inspection team also performed safety checks and over-the-shoulder assessments of technicians doing final inspections on completed tasks.

"We're here to provide an evaluation of a unit's ability to perform key logistics processes in a safe, standardized, repeatable and technically compliant manner," said Colonel Marks. "We do that in accordance with Air Force Instruction 20-111."

Experience and expertise with aircraft and other equipment played a key role in the base's performance.

"The benefit of having the civilians that have been here so long is continuity," said Senior Master Sgt. Travis T. Walker, AFMC LCAT inspector. "Many of them have been at the base for years so they remember what they've done to the aircraft before and the problems it's had in the past, so that familiarity is a big plus."

To get the inspection team in place and to make sure they felt comfortable during their stay, Team Edwards implemented the red carpet reception plan, a concept that helps the inspection team have a smooth arrival and have everything ready so team members can jump right into the inspection.

"It's our way of bedding down the inspection team," Mrs. Zimmerman said. "We have to coordinate transportation for them to use while they are here. We also have to ensure all the vehicles have the proper placards and are cleaned and stocked with base maps. We have to set up billeting for them. The conference center had to be set up to meet their requirements so the 95th Communications Squadron came and set that up for them, and we sent a baggage detail to pick them up at the airport."

"I'm really proud of all Edwards personnel," said Mrs. Zimmerman. "I think everybody did a great job and we showed the LCAT team hospitality as well as how proficiently we are able to do our jobs."