Team Edwards undergoes combined IG inspection

  • Published
  • By Jet Fabara
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  How do Air Force bases gauge whether they are up to par with Air Force standards on how to operate and function as an installation? That's where Inspector General Unit Effectiveness Inspections play an important role.

Unit Effectiveness Inspections are evaluations that focus on how the installation commander executes the mission, leads its people, manages resources and is improving the unit overall; and for two weeks, the 412th Test Wing, along with the Air Force Test Center, Air Force Research Laboratory Detachment 7 and Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 3 and 4, are all undergoing a UEI Capstone event that began March 16.

"The UEI cycle includes a capstone event every 24 to 30 months, with periodic inspections occurring throughout the cycle. Much of the continuous evaluation is conducted virtually, but the capstone requires a team of inspectors to conduct an on-site inspection to validate and verify the Commander's Inspection Program. This capstone event will last two weeks, which is longer than usual because they are combining the AFTC, AFRL, AFLCMC, 412th TW, due to their geographic proximity," said Maj. Carl Pitts, 412th Test Wing Inspector General Office. "The purpose of the Air Force Inspection System is to enable and strengthen a commander's effectiveness and efficiency and identify issues interfering with compliance, discipline, readiness, performance, surety and management excellence."

During the two-week inspection, Pitts noted that the IG will validate and verify the Commander's inspection Program (CCIP), observe a Wing Inspection Team-led active shooter exercise, conduct Airmen-To-IG-Sessions and independently assess unit effectiveness through task evaluations, audits and observation.
 
"By combining the capstone with periodic virtual assessments, the UEI provides a continuous evaluation model and avoids the limitations of a snapshot inspection," Pitts said. "This inspection is not about fixing or hiding all of our noncompliant items, instead commanders are rewarded when they demonstrate they have identified and prioritized the noncompliance. This encourages an atmosphere of open, honest reporting."

According to Pitts, the inspection team consists of 133 inspectors from Air Force Materiel Command, as well as five Air Force Inspection Agency inspectors who will observe the AFMC inspection processes through the remainder of the inspection.

"Daily feedback will be provided to leaders throughout the capstone. An executive out-brief will be given on the last day of the inspection, March 27, that should indicate how well we did, and the final report will be provided afterwards within 30 days. Each Major Graded Area will be assigned a level of effectiveness," added Pitts.