Inspectors look over quality assurance Published July 19, 2006 By Tech. Sgt. Wendy Beauchaine 446th Airlift Wing MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- After gearing up for the operational readiness inspection, 446th Airlift Wing maintainers are now preparing for another assessment. The Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Program team arrives here July 30 to ensure McChord's warfighters are supported by a safe, well-trained force. "The LSEP team is checking on how well we do our jobs, using performance-based evaluations and personal evals," said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Steinbacher, 446th Maintenance Group quality assurance superintendent. "They will be looking at areas like safety and training, with a focus on QA." Sergeant Steinbacher, a 28-year veteran, has been through LSEP inspections before, and earlier this year, he joined the assessment team to conduct Charleston's evaluation. "You could equate it to a mega Quality Assurance Evaluation," he said. "Just like our quarterly maintenance standardization and evaluation, just performed by higher headquarters."In addition to compliance, the LSEP visit will focus on how well the wing fosters a culture of professional excellence and personal responsibility. "The LSEP team wants to know how well we inspect our Airmen," he said. "Instead of a train the trainer, this is like an inspect the inspector. It's a great tool to help us raise the bar on our daily performance." This evaluation will be unique because the 446th and 62nd Airlift Wings will be graded together, with one grade. "We're partnering with the 62nd folks, crossing our T's and dotting our I's," said Col. Jon Huguley, the 446th MXG commander. "Our operations have been validated by the ORI and other inspections, so I feel confident about our team and the program we have." That said, having inspectors looking over the shoulder as personnel function can be intimidating. It takes confidence in your abilities to ensure you comply with all the details required, under close scrutiny, said Chief Master Sgt. Horacio Beruti, 446th AMXS superintendent. In order to inoculate Airmen to the pressures of an over-the-shoulder inspection, the quality assurance team has been making some test runs. "We've been doing as many inspections with our folks as we can, to prepare them for when the LSEP team inspects their performance," said Sergeant Steinbacher. "We want them to be comfortable with doing their job in front of an inspector, not nervous." Because the maintenance group fosters a train-like-we-fight environment, their senior leadership feels confident the inspection will not change the normal routine. "We do a great job every day whether we are changing a fuel control at home station, changing tires for a presidential support mission, or launching an aircraft from Baghdad," Chief Beruti said. "Our folks know their stuff and I'm sure the inspectors will see our enthusiasm." For the maintainers who haven't been around long, or haven't been a part of a big inspection, the challenge lies in educating them on what to expect, said Senior Master Sgt. Cameron Pence, also a 446th AMXS section chief. "We are overcoming this challenge by making sure that all of our troops understand the type of findings the LSEP teams have uncovered at other locations, and ensuring they know what is in the LSEP inspection checklists," he said. "Our troops have benefited from the preparation and I'm confident we'll blow the inspectors away." The out brief is scheduled for Aug. 7.