Ellsworth garners outstanding rating for executing the mission

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  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Air Force Global Strike Command Inspector General tallied its results from a recent Unit Effectiveness Inspection of the base in August and gave Ellsworth an “Outstanding” rating for its ability to execute the mission, one of the four major grading areas used for inspections.

The wing received an “Effective” rating overall, garnering Effective ratings for the three remaining major graded areas – managing resources, leading people and improving the unit.

Col. Gentry Boswell, commander of the 28th Bomb Wing, said receiving an Outstanding rating confirms that the base is among the elite in its ability to provide combat airpower – anytime, anywhere.

“We did fantastic in the UEI,” Boswell said. “Ellsworth is the only base in AFGSC to receive an Outstanding in the area of executing the mission since the new inspection system began in 2014 –truly a remarkable accomplishment.”

Boswell noted that everyone serving at Ellsworth should take great pride in the results of the inspection, which show our commitment to the mission, our Airmen, and our Core Values.

“We had several Airmen and teams recognized as superior performers,” he said. “And, we also had a few areas where we can do better. That will be our focus; ensuring we stay strong in the areas functioning well, as well as strengthening any areas that need more attention.”

Col. Omar Colbert, AFGSC IG team chief, said the Raiders of the 28th BW executed their primary mission in an exemplary manner during the course of the two-year UEI cycle, and wing leadership provided sound guidance and adequately used resources to sustain operations and equipment.

In 2014, an Air Combat Command IG team inspected the base and rated it as effective overall as well. Ellsworth was realigned under AFGSC in 2015 when the Air Force moved its core mission of global strike and all of the service’s bombers under a unified command responsible for organizing, training and equipping Airmen to perform that mission.

Inspectors validate and verify a wing commander’s Inspection Program 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.

Maj. Cedric Harper, director of inspections for the 28th BW, added the wing performed well during the UEI capstone in August, and receiving an Outstanding in one of the four major graded areas corroborates the tireless efforts of the Airmen in the wing.

“For many people, this was their first peek at how the new Air Force Inspection System works,” Harper added. “Now that we know what it looks like and are more familiar, we can improve upon on the continuous evaluation of the wing by identifying any trouble areas and committing ourselves to fixing them.”