Keesler ramps up inspection preparation Published Jan. 20, 2010 By Angela Cutrer Keesler News staff KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- Keesler's upcoming Unit Compliance Inspection is on the horizon and base officials want Team Keesler to be ready. Brig. Gen. Ian Dickinson, 81st Training Wing commander, expects the wing to remain on a constant state of readiness because of this impending inspection slated for Oct. 24-30. "To ensure we're inspection ready, squadron commanders must validate their unit self-inspection program, dig into the regulations and verify the findings from the 2007 Operational Readiness Inspection are closed," he said. General Dickinson believes squadron commanders are the key in the self-inspection program that will ensure Keesler is in compliance and deserving of an "outstanding" rating. While the UCI team is at Keesler, the general expects personnel to be "educated, motivated, independently evaluated and inspection ready." For the 2007 ORI, Keesler achieved an overall "excellent" rating. "We are hoping for that rating or even better for this go around," said Maj. Bob Paleo, the wing's UCI project officer and exercise evaluation chief. Col. Ward Juedeman, chief of the inspection division for Air Education and Training Command's inspector general, said the new limited-notice inspection program implemented last year will breed the "compliance culture" Air Force leadership requires of all service members and units. Keesler plans to conduct mock UCI and staff assistance visits after first validating all findings closed from the last ORI. Also planned are semi-annual self inspections verified by squadron commanders and implementation of best practices from across the Air Force, AETC and other bases. In December, Major Paleo organized a UCI working group of Keesler representatives from across the base that continues to meet at least monthly: Lt. Col. Karen Castillo, inspector general. Brian Mooers, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century chief. Chief Master Sgt. Colin O'Neill, self-inspection monitor. Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Boothe, wing staff agency representative. Maj. Sean Ellars and Kurt Higgins, 81st Training Group representatives. Lt. Col. Sean Gallagher and Master Sgt. Gregory McMillan, 81st Mission Support Group representatives. Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Hayden, 81st Medical Group representativeIn December, the group met with AETC's inspection office and Colonel Castillo noted some lessons learned from the visit: Inspectors will check with the unit self-inspection program to validate if they were consistently identified. False reporting is a "double-hit" (identified as "green," but turned out "red"). UCI emphasis is on regulatory compliance. The key to compliance is a strong self-inspection program that prepares the wing for all inspections, including no notice (72 hours) and limited notice (three weeks). The AETC self-inspection checklists are only a starting point because self inspection is a basis for compliance; units should build on the AETC/IG functional self-inspection checklists. Commanders should expect to lose training time during the UCI, unlike previous inspections. Although units can request waiver of relief for shortfall areas, only one AETC base has requested this. Units should focus on providing a comprehensive binder for the UCI team, with supporting documentation showing compliance with self-inspection items. Focus on command-level trends. Visit the AETC/IG website on the Air Force Portal to find functional area trends from previous UCIs and ORIs. The AETC UCI team will consist of more than 130 people. Expect a larger team than previous inspections because there are more compliance items to inspect. Thoroughly read regulations to find the complete list of compliance items. Program management, also known as commander's programs, is the most difficult area to get an "Outstanding" or "Excellent" rating because of the diversity of programs, so take special care in assigning this duty. The team inspects the "programs," not the "people." Don't take the inspection personally; keep it professional at all times. Root cause analysis isn't required, but is highly recommended, for self-inspection program deficiencies. The 81st TRW has made a root cause analysis mandatory for all self-inspection program deficiencies.