Inspection program ensures continued compliance, readiness

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen Linch
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Commander's Inspection Program has been in full swing at RAF Lakenheath since November 2012.

The program changes the way the 48th Fighter Wing ensures readiness from inspections by mass external teams to self inspection and is intended to be more relevant to the Liberty Wing's modern mission.

"Previously, preparing for inspections differed - often significantly - from the wing's preparation for wartime missions," said Lt. Col. Thomas McGrath, 48th FW Commander's Inspection Program director. "It wasn't that the inspections weren't 'combat' based - however, they often were based on roles and missions from past conflicts as opposed to the emerging threat and mission sets of the present day global situation."

Under the new program, individual units load inspection checklists, evaluate their performance and take corrective action when necessary. Because the checklists are virtual, they are always available for review, which improves transparency in the inspection process, said Tech. Sgt. Patrick Cripps, 48th FW Management Internal Control Toolset gatekeeper and native of Topeka, Kan.

"We are changing over from, 'hey, we have to get ready for a compliance inspection' to continually ready - a constant state of compliance," Cripps said.

To guarantee continued readiness, the 48th FW has appointed a wing inspection team consisting of 44 members from various sections to validate the integrity of the unit assessments, he added.

In addition to providing continued compliance, the program is also slated to be more cost-effective than the previous inspection process, which according to United States Air Forces in Europe, had more than 700 days of inspections at any given base over a five-year period of time.

"This program will likely save resources, both at the wing and MAJCOM level," said McGrath. "A local 'cost' will be imposed in terms of establishing and instituting the program; however, in the long run, a more realistic approach to exercises and training, along with phasing out redundant or obsolete functions, will result in a more efficient and effective program."