Roadmap laid out for success in ORI

Published Sept. 18, 2009
72nd Air Base Wing Plans and Programs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Operations Readiness Inspection is 42 days away and in advance of the Inspector General's visit, the 72nd Air Base Wing Plans and Programs office has a few tips for everyone to remember. This is the first in a series of articles to be published leading up to the inspection.

Tips for Success:
· Have a positive attitude. We have completed the training, we know the rules; now let's show them we have the right attitude.
· Know contingency procedures. Command and control, down to the lowest level in the unit, during all contingency operations will determine whether or not your unit shines.
· Hustle and show a "sense of urgency." Do not focus on the "simulation." Act as you would in a real situation.
· Keep your eyes and ears open. Respond quickly to requests from the inspector and be ready for the unexpected.
· Keep your actions simple, yet thorough enough to meet the required inspection objectives.
· Think things through. Do not fall into the trap of taking hasty actions that you will later regret. If you are unsure of what to do, pause, think your actions through and then act. If you are still unsure of what to do, ask someone who knows.
· Live to fight another day. If you see something unsafe, call an exercise timeout. Anyone from an airman basic to a general can stop an exercise for a safety issue.
· Properly document your programs and processes. Inspectors ask you questions and follow up with "show me." Good documentation (e-mail included) reflects complete work. · Start off with a good in-brief and handouts. Units should prepare a formal in-brief for their inspector. These in-briefs are the forum to tell the inspector, up front, how great your unit is and to inform them of any unique aspects of the organization. Keep these short.
· Don't quibble. Admit your mistakes and start fixing them immediately. Take quick corrective actions to show the inspector that you now have a handle on the process. Report it up your chain of command. However, you definitely don't want to point fingers and say it was your predecessor's fault or another base agency.
· Be familiar with DOD publications, AF, AFMC and local instructions/supplements for your respective functional area.
· Always remember safety first. Don't cut corners or violate rules/regulations to impress the IG, to get somewhere "on time" or to get something done faster. Do it right the first time and do it safely. Remember: if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!