Tinker’s AFMC units prepare for coming no-notice inspections

Published Feb. 26, 2009
By Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- No-notice inspections are now an Air Force Materiel Command standard. Since Feb. 1, Air Force Materiel Command installations are subject to limited and no-notice inspections. Despite the seemingly unnerving prospect, Tinker officials said Tinker can handle the change.

Under the new guidelines, the Air Force inspector general's office can give an installation as much as 14 days notice or absolutely no warning. Upon arrival at the installation, an IG can perform targeted compliance inspections, targeted readiness inspections, nuclear surety inspections, logistics standardization evaluation team inspections or a combination of them. They can also, though unlikely, perform full-up operational readiness inspections, unit compliance inspections and nuclear surety inspections.

"Everyone has to change their mindset," said Jonny Conover, senior exercise evaluator with the Installation Exercise Program Office. "They have to look at the next day as 'the IG inspector could greet me at the door.'"

During the War Wagon 09-02 exercise held Feb. 9-20, the exercise program office ensured several organizations did just that. Officials showed up at numerous offices to check self inspection, life cycle engineering, records management, test and evaluation and deployment management.

Mr. Conover said the inspectors were well received.

"This event highlighted the intent of the new no-notice inspection methodology," Mr. Conover said.

Mr. Conover said the change also helps the AFMC IG ensure the Air Force better utilizes resources by allowing one person to do three evaluations instead of having a team come to an installation, perform one inspection, only to have to come back and do another check. The change also ensures an installation is always ready.

"Past ORIs gave a snapshot of the [Air Force's] state of readiness, but did not provide a picture of the day-to-day state of readiness," he said. "No-notice [inspections] will provide that missing piece."

Tinker began to better prepare its personnel for the possibility of no-notice compliance inspections last year. At that time, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center personnel were required to bulk up conduct of self inspections through the unit Self Inspection Program by providing "drill down" or back-up information on the proposed "fix" for correcting any open finding.

As a result, personnel have been running checklists of necessary requirements and have taken the time to identify actions that are performed well and how they achieve acceptable outcomes. Personnel also note actions that are done poorly and actions necessary to correct the problems with open finding analysis and improvement plans. The open findings and corrective action drill-down plans are forwarded to the IG office at AFMC Headquarters for review, to help determine areas to target for inspection.

To further ensure Tinker personnel remain ready for no-notice checks and in good standing with self inspections, Mr. Conover said his office will continue to perform no-notice inspections in addition to scheduled exercises and inspections.

Mr. Conover said his office has also changed the way they conduct deployed operations' exercises to more closely align with targeted readiness inspection methods at the IG's office at AFMC Headquarters. The first day of exercise will be all ability to survive and operate and the following two days are focused on mission capabilities. (This is the third in an ongoing series meant to prepare AFMC units for no-notice inspections.)