Wing starts preparing for inspection under new system Published Sept. 20, 2013 By Sandra Pishner 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- If a unit is mission ready, then by default it should be inspection ready. At least that's the premise behind the new Air Force Inspection System announced by Air Force officials in June. No longer will units spend months focused on inspection preparations. Instead, they will now regularly conduct unit self-assessments, and wing-driven inspections. The only time units should see a higher headquarters IG team is for a low-key visit to validate the findings of the wing commander's inspection findings. Under the new Air Force Inspection System the process is driven by a philosophy that commanders focus on mission readiness and not spend time before the IG team visits preparing for inspection readiness. As wings self-assess, the headquarters experts will continuously validate a wing's efforts by using a variety of tools including virtual inspections, daily interactions, and small team visits. "The concept of the new Unit Effectiveness Inspection is a two to three year cycle with the Wing Inspection Team performing annual inspections and units performing continuous self-assessment using the MICT (Management Internal Control Tool) network," said Lt. Col. Patrick Kearney, 446th AW chief of process management. "Reserve Associate wings will receive a Capstone IG visit, alternating each cycle from Air Force Reserve Command and Air Mobility Command." The 446th AW will receive its first Commander's Inspection Program validation from AMC IG in September 2014. While still a year out, the unit self-assessments and wing inspections start now. Between October and December, units should conduct unit self-assessments where they will track, assign, and execute requirements. This is where units will validate and verify items on the MICT. Between January and March, the wing inspection team will make unit visits, as well as conduct virtual inspections. Between March and June, the wing inspection team will issue its report, identify closure actions, and units will reassess. Between July and Sept, AFRC IG in conjunction with AMC will conduct a virtual inspection of MICT self-assessment checklists. As the Air Force continues to be shaped leaner, the importance of eliminating waste, and increasing efficiency is at an all-time high. As the new AFIS is implemented and evolves, senior Air Force leaders are confident the program will reduce manhours significantly. "I believe the return on a manpower investment to help the wing commander identify, report, analyze and fix problems is at least 10 to 1," said Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General. "I'm convinced the efforts we're making together to strengthen command, reduce and prioritize our guidance and reduce wasteful preparation for external inspections will be a catalyst for mission capability and cultural changes that will benefit every Airman, our Air Force and our nation. I don't say that lightly." Under the previous legacy system, major commands would send their inspector general along with dozens of function inspection teams to inspect how ready that unit is and how compliant they are. "Conceptually, the new Capstone visit, scheduled for Sept. 12-19, is shorter in duration and smaller in the number of headquarters people involved," said Kearney. "The Capstone team follows up on its virtual findings with unit leadership in four major graded areas and hold forums with unit members concerning Unit Climate Survey actions." (Staff Sgt. David Salanitri, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs contributed to this report.)