USAFE/IG completes limited notice compliance inspection

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Eric Petosky
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  The 100th Air Refueling Wing earned an overall "In-Compliance" rating Jan. 9, after a team of inspectors from the Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe Inspector General Office completed a limited notice unit compliance inspection.

The rating covered 10 selected compliance areas directly related to deployments, special interest items like dormitory management, and common core compliance areas like intelligence oversight and fitness management.

"The USAFE IG came to inspect us with very little notice and our folks did extremely well, showing that we are mission ready," Col. Eden Murrie, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, said. "We do a great job every day, and part of a great job is staying focused on the mission at hand, following checklists, AFIs and other directives, and continuing to inspect ourselves. This will ensure we're always ready at a moment's notice."

No-notice or limited-notice inspections have received new emphasis in the IG community since the start of the year, Lt. Col. Charles Toplikar, USAFE IG operations division chief, said. No-notice inspections occur with 72 hours notice, and limited-notice inspections occur within 45 days notice. The relatively short length of time between notice and inspection gives commanders a realistic look at day-to-day operations of their units.

"With only 10 inspectors, we have a smaller footprint than a normal UCI during which there can be more than 100 inspectors," he said. "That allows wings to continue to focus on the mission rather than inspection preparation. We don't want to see people painting rocks - we want to see what they bring to the fight.

"By focusing on areas directly relating to mission accomplishment, commanders get an immediate snapshot, and they can better prepare their wings to accomplish the mission. We take every opportunity to take notice of strong programs, and the inspection results are shared so other commanders can utilize best practices."

UCIs of this nature will continue on a regular basis over the coming year. Any compliance area can be inspected, anywhere at any time, based on direction from higher headquarters, opportunity, and conjunction with other events.

"My advice is to continue to focus on the day-to-day job, adhere to core values, and accomplish the Air Force mission," Colonel Toplikar said. "The Air Force is chock full of professional Airmen doing great things in a myriad of operations. That focus and professionalism will carry them through."