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Show B Aug. 27,1998 Wing sees evolving inspection philosophy By Staff Sgt. James A. Rush Editor, Fighter Country Air Combat Command's Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection of the 388th Fighter Wing Aug. 17 through Friday was a far cry from the evaluations career airmen remember. That's not to say wing airmen didn't work hard. Aircraft maintainers labored over the weekend of Aug. 1 5 and 16 and through the night Aug. 17 to prepare jets for the IG Team's scrutiny. The final days of the inspection were long also as aircraft carrying troops and equipment left at midnight Friday and 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Past ORIs were commonly shorter, about three days, whereas inspectors for this one arrived Aug. 17. The k anticipated (or longer) shifts, manning for everyone, and multiple exercise scenarios to create a high-streenvironment didn't happen. Instead, mobilization activities were spread through the week and inspectors stood back to watch the wing deploy its 4th Fighter Squadron to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, for Operation Northern Watch. "In a Phase I inspection, we see how a unit can package people, equipment and planes and then go to a deployed location," said Col. Jim Wessler, IG Team chief. "If an ORI is a means of evaluating whether or not you can do a job, what better time to see that than when you actually do it?" The decision to evaluate an actual deployment instead of a simulation is one of ACC's measures to reduce the impact operations tempo has on its units. The move means wing airmen have to mobilize one less time this a K. &X fry., ft around-the-cloc- fast-pace- d, ss year. This strategy is in its second year of use. Other units such as the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour-Johnso- n Air Force Base, N.C.; the 366th Wing, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and the 74th Air Control Squadron, Langley AFB, Va., have undergone similar inspections. "I think you're going to see more of this type of event in the future," said Colonel Wessler. "All our senior leaders are concerned about operations tempo and are looking for ways to reduce it. One of the areas Gen. Richard E. Hawley, ACC commander has direct control over is inspections so we've seen a move to a four-yecycle from a three-yeone and we combine them with Photo by Staff Sgt. James A. Rush Col. Mike Hostage (right), 388th Fighter Wing commander, welcomes Col. Jim Wessler , Inspector GeneralTeam chief, Aug. 7 in front of base operations. Also pictured " is IG Team Operations Branch chief, Lt. Col. Dave Ziomek. BELOW Captjeffrey Goddard,4th Fighter Squadron pilot, has his mobility bag inspected by I G Team member Capt. Howard Kosht. ABOVE 1 Photo by Airman Cindy Richards ar real-wor- ar ld events." The format for inspectionsdeployments is still changing. During earlier ones, IG teams still added extra events, such as mobilizing additional people, to bring up total participation. The pace was quicker, but the duration shorter, according to the colonel. The 388th FW inspection was extended to be in line with the wing's desired deployment schedule. Inspectors arrived Aug. 1 7 to evaluate maintenance on deployThis allowed the wing to continue flying soring ties during the week. The mobility process and actual deployment of troops was rated throughout the week. This inspection was different for the IG Team as well. Procedures had to be adjusted because of the wing's status as a tenant unit. "That is the most noticeable difference. There are some areas you don't control, such as mobility processing and you don't have the support group function," said Colonel Wessler. "We can't evaluate you here because you don't own the process." ACC has more than 100 IG inspections planned next year. One of these is a Phase II ORI for the 388th FW next fall. The 419th. FW is scheduled to undergo a ACC-IG Phase I inspection in November. FIGHTER COUNTRY s published for people like : ... FIGHTER COUNTRY First place, imall commarclal-antarprnawipapar Air Combat Command Madia Contest Aim -- tk' Name: Senior Airman Terry Adkins Job: Armaments Specialist Unit: 388th Maintenance Squadron Hometown: Martinsville, Va. Time in Service: 3 years, 8 months Hobbies: Cars, hiking, boating, car stereos Most recent accomplishment: Moved out of the dormitories What would I change at Hill AFB: "Lower the drinking lt 17 Editorial Staff Col. MHm Hostag Capt. lamat R. Wilson . Staff Sjt. jamtt A. Rush. Commander -- -- .1 v I ' t , , , Editor . Sanlor Airman San Banda Deputy Chief-- Community Relations Airman Cindy ttlrhard. 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