Team Mildenhall prepares for inspection Published Jan. 2, 2014 By Gina Randall 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Team Mildenhall is preparing for its first inspection in 2014. An inspection is an opportunity to validate compliance and mission readiness. It's a time to prove an installation's preparation and professionalism and to highlight its integrity. It's also a time for personnel to interact with the installation's inspection team. At RAF Mildenhall, members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing Inspections and Readiness (IGI) office lead the base's inspection team. The IGI office will inspect Team Mildenhall many times over the course of a year. Individual units will prove their readiness as inspectors assess critical areas. Then the inspection team will consolidate its findings into a report for the base commander. "Members of the Wing Inspection Team get together multiple times in the months leading up to each inspection to discuss the objectives and brainstorm ideas on how to best accomplish those objectives," said Capt. Laura Piranio, 100th ARW Inspections chief from Moore, Okla. "During meetings closer to the exercise, we run through our schedule of events and insert as much realism as possible to make the scenario more convincing for the wing." The team works hard to ensure they properly meet the wing commander's objectives. "Our team has had to develop relationships with subject matter experts across the base, and bring them together in order to intelligently design exercises to meet the objectives approved by the wing commander," added Maj. Jeremy Patrick, 100th ARW IGI director of inspections from Marion, Ill. The WIT studies the scenarios and anticipated reactions, so the team is prepared to assess performance. Additionally, the WIT members meet prior to an exercise for a workshop which reinforces the necessity of the inspection and prepares them to perform an unbiased inspection. The workshop includes topics such as: how to observe without interfering, how and when to intervene if necessary, how to take effective notes of their observations and how to transform those notes into useful inputs for the written inspection. "On a large scale, the goal is to verify the ability, and improve RAF Mildenhall's capability to deploy 100th ARW equipment and personnel in support of assigned missions worldwide, as well as employ assigned units, equipment, and personnel both at home and abroad. In addition, there are specific readiness events and requirements governed by Air Force Instructions and other guidance that are included during exercises," Patrick said. "Within this broad umbrella, the wing commander, with inputs from his staff and the group commanders, has laid out several specific objectives to be evaluated during an inspection." A positive result from an inspection would validate Team Mildenhall's ability to employ and deploy assets in support of designed operational capability statement requirements and other directed missions. "Of course, if my team is doing the job right, even after a successful outcome on an exercise or inspection, there will be valuable lessons learned," Patrick said. "These lessons will be incorporated in to ensure even better performance in the future." A negative inspection result would indicate flaws in the 100th ARW's ability to perform necessary missions. In the worst case scenario, the wing commander may have to stand-down certain units until they correct the deficiencies. Other, less drastic, negative results may lead to a redesign of programs, identification of equipment that needs to be sourced or training opportunities. The nearly endless possibilities depend on the problems uncovered. "It's not really about passing or failing, but more about discovering areas in need of improvement and revamping some processes to better accomplish the mission," Piranio said. "Just as important as identifying areas for improvement is seeking out exemplary performers throughout the wing and recognizing them for a job well done." Ultimately, these inspections are a key part of the commander's inspection program. It allows leadership to gauge whether the wing is aligned correctly to support its missions.