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Show October 5. 2000 Planning, preparing and documentation, keys to a successful inspection by Col. Gerald Yearsley 419th FW Logistics Group commander sure it isnt news to anyone that the wing is for a Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI), 1am HQ AFRC in April. A lot has been discussed about its value and whether or not the timing is right. The answers to these Colonel Gerald Yearsley questions and results of those discussions have not and will not alter our date with destiny, the inspection will 419th FW Logistics Group commander go on. April is a long way off. We still have to go through both fall and winter, still plenty of time to get ready. If you believe that, it suggests you know very little about the reserve. Our schedule is defined more in terms of Unit Training Assemblies (UTAs) than calendar days and when looking at it from this point of view we have lot of hard work in both planning and preparation. All less than 12 days.' of the questions an inspector will ask are available to As I have thought about what it will take to get us today in either the Inspector General UCI Guide or ready I was reminded of the advice my parents gave in a number of Special Interest Items (SIIs). If you me when I was a small child. Its the same advice you have not read these documents you need to take time received with the same story and same bottom line. As and do it. Sounds simple, well it is. The hard work I recall its starts out with a grasshopper who plays all comes in when the inspector asks two simple follow-o- n summer and the squirrel who plans and prepares. questions. The first is easy to answer. Are you in Winter arrives; and then the famous words from the compliance with existing policies and procedures? The press interview with the squirrel as he is leaving the second is far more difficult. How do you know? There grasshoppers funeral that cold winters day If you is only one acceptable answer to the inspector fail to plan and prepare, then plan to fail. DOCUMENTATION! You must prove you know from The UCI is a simple process but one that requires a documented training records, performance indicators. completed forms, reports, and a number of other sources. This is not the responsibility of any one individual but of every member in the wing. All of us individually or collectively can and will directly affect the outcome. (It can be something as simple as the documentation in your individual training plan or a major program like Safety or Family Care where you working through others are responsible for the program.) As you plan and prepare one of the first things discovered is there are parts you can control, parts controlled elsewhere in the wing and parts controlled by higher authority. You account for that part you can control and if we do that at both the individual and wing level our inspection will be a success. There are lots of ways to prepare and I offer a few as suggestions. Play the role of the inspector, read the questions in the guide and then ask the simple questions. Am I in compliance and how do I know. Is the documentation present, does it conform to the guidelines and if the answer is no, fix it whenever and wherever you can or report it to someone who can. Never assume someone else will take care of the problem. Get involved, stay involved and remember the importance of first impressions. Fancy pictures and pretty displays are not needed nor are they a substitute for a well managed program with documented results. Doing our job by the book is all that is asked. Brig. Gen. Tanzi receives nomination for prestigious Order of the Sword award by Chief Master Sgt. Marva Harper 419th FW Command Chief Master Sgt. Around the Air Force Reserve, we have made many strides in the past few years. It is more and more lucrative to make the reserve a career commitment. Take for example the following reasons: Extended Promotion Program, this allows staff sergeants with 16 years of service to be promoted regardless of vacancy. Promotion Enhancement Program (PEP), allows members to be promoted one grade over authorized grade. We have had great success promoting many members all the way up to chief" master sergeant. Enlisted members with 60 or more credit hours are eligible for promotion to E-- 4 upon graduation from technical school, with the commanders approval. Enlisted Grade Enhancements, increased promotion -- -- -- -- opportunities for many, same number of positions in grades airman first class and senior airman were either decreased or eliminated. -- Officer promotions; incentives, under ROPMA, majors now may stay until 20 years Total Federal Commission Service or second passover. A Selective Continuation Board will be convened for twice passed over captains and majors in certain critical skills as needed. Officer grade enhancements for lieutenant colonels, majors and lieutenants Active, Guard and Reserve (AGR) Program Located at both unit and HQ level Program may lead to regular retirement Community College of the Air Force - Dantes Distance Learning Program ' Supports and provides exams education avenues for obtaining a college degree -- Pays 75 percent of tuition upon completion of course Dantes Certification testing, allows members to obtain certification in their occupational specialty Montgomeiy GI Bill Available to selected reservist -- Financial assistance paid by the VA for degree programs (must meet program requirements) GI Bill Kicker -- Supplemental allowance up to $350 per month in addition to MGIB basic benefit Approved list of CAFSCs based on vacancies coupled with historical manning rates (must meet requirements) If you would like more information regarding any of these programs, contact the 419th Military Personnel Flight Training office in building 593 at (801) -- -- r i Mwiu uy otcJldlllc JU1 Chief Master Sgt. Billy Blackburn, Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Reserve Command presents an unsuspecting Brigadier General David Tanzi with the nomination certificate for the Order of the Sword award as Command Chief Master Sergeant Marva Harper Looks on. --- --- by Stephanie Johns 419th FW Public Affairs Office , Non-tradition- -- -- -- al On September 28, a rare honor was bestowed upon a former 419th Fighter Wing commander. While visiting the wing to maintain flying currency. Brigadier General David Tanzi, director of Plans and Programs at Air Force Reserve Command, was taken by surprise when he was presented die Order of the Sword nomination. Unknown to General Tanzi, Chief Master Sgt. Billy Blackburn, Command Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Reserve Command accompanied by his wife, Robin, arrived at the 4 1 9th FW from Georgia to present the general with this prestigious award nomination. As General Tanzi accepted the nomination he said, Im at a loss for words. I am truly honored. The Order of the Swofd is a rare honor. Only 13 have been presented in the history of the Air Force Reserve. The award is reserved for only those leaders who have exceptional demonstrated absolute respect and confidence in the officer corps. Recipients must also make conspicuous and significant contributions to the opportunities and quality of life for NCOs. It has been a long drawn out process, said Chief Master Sgt. Marva Harper, Command Chief of the 419th FW. These awards arent given out indiscriminately. It has taken about two years to get this nomination approved. In March 1999, voting ballets were sent to each of the wings senior enlisted members along with an explanation letter. HeadsUp content is edited, prepared and provided by the 419th Fighter Wing public Affairs Office. DEADLINE for submission of articles 10 working days before each scheduled wing unit training assembly. Articles should be typed and double-space- d on a line eadsUp is a Reserve supplement to the Hilltop times, published by Mor Media, Inc., a private firm in no connected with the U S way orce, under exclusive wntten contract with the Ogden ALC Public Affairs Office, this commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for Air Force Reserve members of the U.S. military services. Contents of HeadsUp are not necessarilvthe official views of or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Air Force. i Before General Tanzi s name could be forwarded to the Chairman of the AFRC Order of the Sword committee, three-fourtof the majority vote from the wings senior enlisted had to be in favor of this nomination. hs After the Order of the Sword committee receives the nomination, a process of polling other Air Force Reserve enlisted NCOs is accomplished before the committee votes to inducTthe individual as a nominee. Once a decision is made by the committee, the AFRC command chief master sergeant announces the approval. General official Tanzis presentation ceremony for the Order of the Sword award will be held on April 14, 2001, in Salt Lake City, Utah. 419th FW Col. F.C. Williams Capt. James R. Wilson Public Affairs Staff Stephanie Johns Senior Airman Nicholas Ferre. Airman Lara Gale Commander Chief of Public Affairs Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer |