Self inspections: the smart way to prepare for an IG visit Published March 27, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Self inspections are now a part of Air Force Materiel Command life. According to instruction mandates, AFMC and Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commanders are required to establish and maintain a self-inspection program. And, since Feb. 1, as Tinker personnel are subject to little and no-notice inspections from local and AFMC Headquarters inspection teams, self-inspections could aid with preparation. "Self inspections allow individuals to make honest assessments of how well they do in their job," said Rick Colina of the Installation Exercise Program office. "A well executed program ensures units accurately self-identify deficiencies, perform a root-cause analysis and develop sufficient corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence." Armed with a checklist, internal supervisors and Air Force-mandated inspector generals grade a self inspection based on a corrective action plan, progress made, remaining actions, timelines, limiting factors, estimated completion dates and collaboration with functional experts, to determine the integrity behind the effort. "Self inspections instill a culture of compliance," Mr. Colina said. "Units with a strong self-inspection program and evidence of leadership review will do very well during unit Air Force inspections." During the last War Wagon exercises, 09-02, several AFMC units received no-notice inspections from local inspectors who evaluated records management, test and evaluation, contracting, deployment management, fuels, supply and contracting sections. Local inspectors used unit self-inspection checklists as their baseline to assess the effectiveness of these programs. To assist in preparing themselves, several OC-ALC units use automated tools, Mr. Colina said. The primary tool Tinker units use is the Alexsys Team database, project-management software. Other units, including the 72nd Medical Group, use MedFacts, a web-based system for compiling and measuring medical treatment facility compliance with the health services inspections. Financial management personnel use the Air Force Accounting and Finance database. Regardless of which tool is used, Mr. Colina said, a thorough self-assessment has proven to be critical to ensure unit compliance with Air Force standards. "By completing an honest self-assessment, a commander and command section can readily know where a program stands, its strengths and weaknesses, and what it needs to be improved in order to meet IG or civilian standards," Mr. Colina said. For more information on self inspections, call Mr. Colina at 739-5014.