911 AW completes Capstone Inspection

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brandy L. Grace
  • 911th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. --  A Capstone Inspection was conducted by the Air Force Reserve Command Inspector General Inspection (IGI) Core Team from Aug. 20 to Aug. 25, 2015 at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station.

"This process will help the wing commander focus resources on areas of possible weakness, while at the same time highlighting areas of excellence," said Senior Master Sgt. John Swinford, an IGI core team member.

The Air Force has geared its recently revamped inspection process toward empowering commanders by having them play an integral role in the inspection process. The process, outlined in Air Force Instruction 90-201, The Air Force Inspection System, details the self-inspection process as well as the Capstone on-site inspection.

The wing regularly conducts self-inspections to maintain compliance, while the Capstone is conducted every 24 to 30 months.

"We trust, and then verify what the command is doing," said Swinford. "We are here to look for undetected non-compliance and to validate and verify the commander's inspection program."

Trust and verification are aspects of the new process, and the new process is changing the atmosphere on bases during the inspection process.

"We are making a difference for bases. We are seeing positive changes throughout the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve Command," said Swinford.

The IGI team conducts inspection interviews with personnel and identifies the top five items wing members would change about their base. The feedback from the Capstone is then provided back to the command in the form of a report.

Not only does the new process provide honest feedback, both positive and constructive, but it saves both the Wing and the Air Force money.

"The cost of the inspection process has gone down tremendously," said Swinford.

According to Swinford, the previous inspection process would have required approximately 110 inspectors. Under the new process requiring self-inspection, there were approximately 50 inspectors needed to conduct the Capstone.

All-in-all, the new process and the inspection itself has been a benefit to the Air Force, and the 911th Airlift Wing.

"We are the mission. We provide our nation tactical airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and agile combat support better than anyone else," said Commander Col. Jeffrey A. Van Dootingh, 911th Airlift Wing. "Now, thanks to our Capstone inspection as part of the new Air Force Inspection System (AFIS), we get to show how we provide that capability while complying with laws, regulations, and Air Force Instructions."