Unit Effectiveness Inspection: Keesler strives for excellence Published Aug. 16, 2018 By Master Sgt. Ryan Crane 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Training Wing is scheduled to complete their capstone event as a part of the Unit Effectiveness Inspection and the Air Force Inspection System, Sept. 10-17. This “new” inspection system is not so new anymore, but this may be the first time some new Airmen on Keesler have experienced a UEI. “Back in 2012, the AF went to a new inspection program,” said Lt. Col. Jerry Hambright, 81st Training Wing inspector general. “The intent is that we are continuously operating how we should be operating. There is no last-minute prep to make our processes look good just for the inspection.” The typical inspection cycle lasts 24-32 months and each unit and functional area is continuously inspected throughout this timeframe via the Management Internal Control Toolset. “MICT is a tool that allows commanders to show their functional managers where they are strong, where they are weak and where they need assistance,” said Hambright. “MICT is a good communication tool up to our major command and headquarters teams.” Keesler’s last UEI was in October 2016. In the timeframe between then and now, all units around the base have continuously reported their self-inspections up to their MAJCOM functional managers. During these back and forth conversations through MICT, each unit showed they are accomplishing the mission as directed by their governing instructions. When the inspection team comes to Keesler, the wing will be rated as either not effective, marginally effective, effective or highly effective. The team will base this grade off their evaluation of the Major Graded Areas published in Air Force Instruction 1-2, Commanders Responsibilities. The MGAs are managing resources, improving the unit, leading the people and executing the mission. In the 81st TRW, all commanders, starting with the wing commander, build their priorities to be successful in these MGAs. “We get our priorities from the wing commander and we go out and build all of the exercises and wing inspections around those priorities,” said Hambright. These exercises and inspections that are conducted continuously are testing and validating the processes and procedures used to accomplish the mission, meet the commander’s priorities and achieve a highly effective rating in the major graded areas. The IG staff is a small team and is not capable of evaluating the entire base so they rely on two key components of the AFIS: the Wing Inspection Team members and the MICT program assessment. “The WIT is probably one of the most important parts of the AFIS system,” said Hambright. “The commander should feel comfortable and want the WIT to come in and look at their processes. The commander can then make data driven decisions on where they can direct resources and where they can take risk.” The inspection process is not only about finding areas that need improvement, but also a tool for the MAJCOMs and Air Force to identify processes and methods that could be benchmarked to help other wings who are trying to address similar issues. “These inspections are also a way to show another organization how to do it better,” said Thane Halsey, 81st Training Wing director of inspections. “We are sharing the fruits of our labor.” While the upcoming capstone event at Keesler is extremely important, Airmen should not expect any major changes to their day-to-day operations the IG staff said. “If we are doing it right, and I know we are doing it right, the majority of people won’t even know the IG is in town.” A few Airmen will participate in what are called Airmen to IG sessions. This is where Airmen will meet with the Air Education and Training Command IG staff to discuss priorities, mission accomplishment and processes on the base or in their unit. This discussion gives the IG staff a look into the working parts of the wing to ensure the mission priorities and processes are filtered down throughout the entire wing. Ultimately the goal of the AFIS is to constantly maintain a level of readiness that allows the unit to accomplish the Air Force mission. Famous entertainer Will Smith once said, “If you’re always ready, you don’t have to get ready.” That is the exact mindset the IG has for the upcoming UEI.