Wing gets 'Excellent' marks during inspection

Published June 19, 2013
By Steve Brady
21st Space Wing Public Affairs Office

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The base auditorium exploded with cheers as the wing's "Excellent" Consolidated Unit Inspection results were announced June 18.

About 130 members of the Air Force Space Command Inspector General team inspected the 21st SW, 721st Mission Support Group and the 4th Space Control Squadron June 10-18.

The results included dramatic improvements in several of the major graded areas, despite the outbreak of the Black Forest Fire, which shifted focus from a scheduled emergency management exercise to real-world fire response.

At the outbrief, Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander, recognized the 30 professional performers and 34 professional teams identified by the IG inspectors.

"We aced almost every area that we put emphasis on, including about a half dozen areas that have struggled in previous inspections," Crawford said.

CUIs are conducted to assess areas mandated by law, as well as mission areas identified by senior Air Force and major command leadership as critical or important to the health and performance of a unit. A five-tier rating system - outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory - is used for major graded areas and overall wing performance.

During the CUI, the 21st SW Knights proved their mettle and garnered six outstanding ratings including the community support flight, heritage activities, flight safety, suicide prevention, unit standardization and evaluation, and news media operations major graded areas. The wing also received 19 excellent, 21 satisfactory, three marginal and zero unsatisfactory ratings.

"We identified our strengths and weaknesses and prioritized them accordingly," said Lt. Col. Patrick Long, CUI preparation team chief. "We laid out a plan and the units expertly executed it - we have a great team and they did a great job."

The wing also underwent four other inspections simultaneously. Results from those inspections include 21st Medical Group health services inspection: Outstanding (94 percent), 21st SW/JA Article 6: Excellent, and Air Force Metrology and Calibration Program: Pass and recommend certification. The results of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care and Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspections were not announced yet.

"You have improved overall performance dramatically despite increases in requirements and a dramatic reduction in manpower," Crawford said. "I am extremely proud of you because you didn't just get a great score; you did it the right way with the right focus on the mission. That's what really matters and you should be proud for the rest of your lives. Congratulations to each of you."

Professional performers include:
21st Space Wing Staff Agencies: Capt. Patrick Booker, 1st Lt. Stacy Glaus, Tech. Sgts. Donna Alverson-Faulkner and Shubert Mendez, Senior Airman Michelle Rust, Darron Haughn, Beverly Price and Hector Warner Jr.
21st Force Support Squadron: Airman 1st Class James Brown, Edward Knowles, Michelle Peterson, Sharon Bowman and Gerry Schroeder.
21st Civil Engineer Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Joshua Wood, Senior Airman Robert Powell and Martha Menjivar.
21st Security Forces Squadron: Tech. Sgt. Vanassa Michael, Staff Sgts. Sandra Brand and Darko Desancic and Katherine Hammer.
21st Medical Group: Tech. Sgt. Lucas Pankey and Staff Sgt. Angelo Tafoya.
21st Operations Group: Tech. Sgt. Teri Freeman and Senior Airman Vanessa Toliver.
721st Mission Support Group: Tech. Sgts. Marie Mindach-Putnam and Carl White.
721st Civil Engineer Squadron: Tyler Nielsen and Mark Onken.
721st Communications Squadron: Master Sgts. Leo Morales and Michelle England.
21st MDG HSI professional performers: Master Sgt. Erica Rose, Staff Sgt. Misty Alvarez and Tom O'Neill.

Professional teams were also recognized, and include:
21st Space Wing Staff Agencies: Chaplain staff, command post training office, command post status of resources and training system office, information protection office, museum staff, program management and quality assurance team, Sexual Assault and Response Program coordinators, 21st Space Wing small business office and suicide prevention team.
21st Medical Group: Suicide prevention team.
21st Civil Engineer Squadron: Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight and Fire Emergency Services flight.
21st Communications Squadron: Base records management team, information assurance office, and TODO and TODA managers.
21st Force Support Squadron: AERO Club, bowling center team, civilian personnel section, manpower and organization section, marketing department, NAF accounting office and OPSEC coordinators.
21st Security Forces Squadron: Commercial vehicle search area team and electronic security systems section.
21st Operations Group: Intelligence flight and weather flight.
21st Operations Support Squadron: Airfield management team, and weapons and tactics.
721st Mission Support Group: GCC team and the commanders support staff.
721st Civil Engineer Squadron: UCC team, central control center and fire emergency services flight.
721st Communications Squadron: UCC team, systems center.
721st Security Forces Squadron: Base defense operations center and fire watch patrol.

Crawford also highlighted the dedication and hard work done by the 21st Space Wing CUI prep team.

CUI results