The Air Force Inspection System and Commander’s Inspection Program Published March 26, 2015 By Lt. Col. Michael Samuel 91st Missile Wing Inspector General MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- In June 2013, the Air Force implemented a new Air Force Inspection System. The purpose of the new system is to effectively and efficiently provide commanders timely, relevant information to improve unit effectiveness. The goal of AFIS is to strengthen commanders' ability to focus on mission readiness, not inspection readiness, reducing the need and incentive to prepare for inspections. AFIS is built around the four key areas of commander's responsibilities: executing the mission, leading people, managing resources and improving the unit. These four major graded areas (MGA) can be evaluated by internal or external inspections. Internal inspections are conducted within the wing as part of the Commander's Inspection Program. The wing Inspector General executes the CCIP with the support of a Wing Inspection Team, which is comprised of personnel from across the wing, nominated by their commanders to serve as subject matter experts for inspections. The inspections provide the wing commander a reliable assessment of the wing's mission readiness and state of discipline. The wing commander also relies on the squadrons and groups to report on their compliance through self-assessment programs. This allows commanders at all levels to verify compliance with directives and identify areas of non-compliance - it is critical to maintaining a successful CCIP. Robust self-assessment programs allow issues to be identified and corrected at the lowest level. The most common method of self-assessment is the Management Internal Control Toolset. MICT is an online program used by Airmen to complete self-assessments of unit programs. Checklists can be created at any level to assist personnel in ensuring their program is in compliance with higher headquarters directives. MICT also allows the IG and major command staff to do a virtual inspection of a unit program. External inspections are conducted by personnel above the wing level and include the Nuclear Surety Inspection and the Unit Effectiveness Inspection. The UEI is accomplished by the Air Force Global Strike Command IG and is a continuous evaluation of the wing's performance based on the four MGAs. The UEI assesses the wing's effectiveness and validates the wing's inspection program. Many people may not realize the wing is currently going through a UEI. The UEI Capstone scheduled for September is the culmination of an inspection that has been ongoing since early 2014. Over the last year, AFGSC IG personnel have made multiple visits to the wing to evaluate our inspection program and observe unit inspections. The results of these visits, combined with the UEI Capstone, will determine the wing's UEI rating. There are two important changes as a result of the new inspection system. First, there is no need for inspection preparation, since the inspections are ongoing. By keeping your program compliant at all times you are always ready for an inspection. Exercises and evaluations will still occur to ensure compliance between inspections. Second, every Airman is critical to the self-assessment process. A successful inspection program relies on open communication at all levels. If you are aware of an area of non-compliance, you have a responsibility to inform your chain of command. By working together to identify and correct non-compliant items, we can ensure we are ready to execute the mission every day. You can stop by the IG office at any time if you have questions about the new inspection system.