MAJCOM Inspector General to conduct UEI on Ellsworth

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Donald Knechtel
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. – Members of the Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General team arrived at Ellsworth AFB to conduct a Unit Effectiveness Inspection Aug. 21, 2016.

Unit Effectiveness Inspectors validate and verify a wing commander's Inspection Program (CCIP) for accuracy, adequacy and relevance, and provide an independent assessment of the Wing’s resource management improvement efforts and ability to execute the mission.

“A UEI is a multi-year, continual evaluation of the unit’s effectiveness, and is intended to help the wing commander understand the areas of greatest risk from undetected non-compliance,” said Col. Michael Tichenor, AFGSC inspector general. “The three days of inspection during the Capstone is preceded by two days of Airmen-to-IG sessions (ATIS).”

Master Sgt. Gerald Russell, 28th Bomb Wing inspector general superintendent, explained the UEI consists of three major parts. First are the Airman-to-IG Sessions, which gives a large sampling of the base the opportunity to speak with IG personnel. Second is the main inspection. During this stage, the inspectors go to their functional areas and inspect work center programs. The final stage is feedback, during which the IG inspectors sit down with wing leadership and go over any strengths or deficiencies in the unit, which leads to the unit's final effectiveness rating.

“The inspection will validate wing programs and processes which are working optimally and shore up those areas which need increased focus to ensure mission readiness,” Russell said. “The capstone [event] is done every 24 to 30 months, but any given wing is under continual evaluation through the wing IG, CCIP, AFGSC IG and AFGSC staff functions.”

Tichenor said the ATIS sessions are highly-structured small group discussion consisting of eight to 15 people and are led by a major command inspector general facilitator specifically trained for this method. ATIS is a standardized and regulated tool used by major commands and the Air Force Inspection Agency for use in UEIs.

“The UEI is an important new white hat change to the inspection concepts the Air Force used to use,” Tichenor explained. “Wings truly get the help they need when they need it and not just every two years when looked at under previous inspection processes; everything that is observed over a two-year period has to have mission affect or mission risk.”

Russell added these inspections are important because of each wing’s unique mission. Between the MQ-9 Reaper and the B-1 bomber, Airmen are called upon daily to project Air Power throughout the world.

“I am really excited for Ellsworth to be able to showcase our mission,” Russell said. “I do inspections around Ellsworth every day and I get to see the great work and wonderful people who make the mission go, it’s our time to show our higher command just how good we are.”