Airmen train for Unit Compliance Inspection

Senior Airman David Carter, 412th Test Wing information manager, inspects an M-16 rifle at the Edwards Mobility Processing Center Oct. 20. during a Phase I exercise in preparation for a Unit Compliance Inspection. The purpose of the UCI is to evaluate the Air Force Flight Test Center and Air Force Research Laboratory's compliance with safety directives, federal law, executive order, Department of Defense and Air Force directives or instructions, and command policy directives and initiatives. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes)

Airmen train for Unit Compliance Inspection

Edwards Airmen don their gas masks during a Phase II exercise at Arnold Park Oct. 20 in preparation for a Unit Compliance Inspection in January. The Airmen also received training on weapons familiarization, self aid buddy care and explosive ordnance identification. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes)

Airmen train for Unit Compliance Inspection

Exercise evaluation team members inspect deployed Airmen's mobility bags during a Phase II exercise at Arnold Park Oct. 20 in preparation for a Unit Compliance Inspection in January. The purpose of a UCI is to evaluate the Air Force's compliance with safety directives, federal law, executive order, Department of Defense and Air Force directives or instructions, and command policy directives and initiatives. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes)

Team Edwards prepares for Unit Compliance Inspection

Published Oct. 21, 2008
By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Edwards is gearing up for a Unit Compliance Inspection from Jan. 9 through 22. Base organizations are buried with inspection checklists to ensure that they have everything covered. However, a lot of people might be wondering what a Unit Compliance Inspection is.

Unit Compliance Inspections evaluate Edwards' compliance with safety directives, federal law, executive orders, Department of Defense and Air Force directives and instructions, and Air Force Materiel Command policy initiatives.

The inspection will determine the base's ability to manage and execute critical daily activities leading to a sustained, effective mission performance; the identification of obstacles to mission accomplishment; and an evaluation of the base's oversight of contracted services.

"A new component of our UCI will be the targeted readiness inspection," said Lt. Col. Gregory Ahlquist, Edwards inspector general. "It is a no-notice, carefully limited and graded evaluation of Edwards. It is designed to provide commanders a snapshot of the base's readiness."

According to David Bookrum, installation exercise program manager, targeted readiness inspection checks for previous "problem areas" of the base.

"If the base received unsatisfactory marks on its previous Operational Readiness Inspection and Unit Compliance Inspections, the AFMC IG will look at those," Mr. Bookrum said. "Basically, they can be anything they want to inspect."

During the base's last ORI, Edwards received unsatisfactory rating on its initial response, which is the processing of Airmen to deployed locations. This consists of processing cargo, assembling the troops, processing them into the line and providing them with the transportation they need to get to their deployed location.

A group of experts from the AFMC Inspector General office will evaluate Edwards on items required to meet readiness requirements. This is to check the base's efforts to prepare expeditionary Airmen for deployment.

"The IG will use checklists to evaluate our compliance with governing policy in areas across the base to include manpower, intelligence, plans and programs, operations, logistics and maintenance," Colonel Ahlquist said. "They will also inspect our communications, civil engineering, finances, contracting and safety to name a few."

Additionally, inspectors will evaluate the base's ability to plan, conduct and critique emergency management exercises, he said.

"A key addition to the UCI different in the past is it will include a Logistics Standardization Evaluation Team inspection," Colonel Ahlquist said. "This is a checklist driven inspection of all base maintenance and logistics. The addition of LSET significantly increases the number of areas and items inspected and will make it feel almost like two inspections in one."

Other areas the IG will evaluate include Edwards' compliance with AFMC and Air Force special interest items and common core compliance areas.

"To prepare for this, you have to know your stuff," said Colonel Ahlquist. "Edwards members, including Airmen and civilians, need to know and verify compliance with AFMC checklists and Air Force Instructions as well as with local checklists and policies. Don't ignore items on the checklist, verify everyone is doing their job and don't panic."

Edwards needs to be positive, sharp and stay mission and team focused, he said.

"We have been constantly preparing for being ready for an exercise, inspection or real world," Mr. Bookrum said. One of the important things for AFMC inspections is the base's mindset. We need to be always prepared and have a sense of urgency."