PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Airmen and assets from the 302nd Airlift Wing were called into action around the world in 2016, from Southwest Asia deployments to aerial firefighting in the Western U.S. Now the Reserve Airmen can add a successful wing-wide inspection to their list of accomplishments this year.
The 302nd AW was rated as “effective” in all categories of the 2016 Unit Effectiveness Inspection Capstone event Sept. 27, 2016 here.
The biennial inspection covers the effectiveness of four categories for the wing. These are: Executing the Mission, Managing Resources, Improving the Unit and Leading People.
”Excellent work,” said Col. James DeVere, 302nd Airlift Wing commander. “Our wing is made up of outstanding Airmen; and the 302nd senior leadership team appreciates all you do.”
According to Air Force Instruction 90-201, The Air Force Inspection System, effective is “the rating given to indicate performance or operations meet expectations and mission requirements. Procedures and activities are carried out in an effective and efficient manner. Programs and processes are measured and repeatable.”
This is the second capstone inspection the 302nd AW has undergone since the transition to the current Air Force Inspection System program. The Unit Effectiveness Inspection or capstone event is a culmination point of the continuous 24 to 30 month evaluation process of wing performance in the four major graded areas. The capstone event also validates and verifies the commander’s inspection program.
”The new AFIS isn't designed to spin up just in time to pass the UEI and then put our programs on the back shelf. Instead, we must continually monitor, self-inspect our programs and procedures, and implement Continuous Process Improvement events to ensure the corrections are completed and documented,” said DeVere, who took command of the wing in April 2016.
The 302nd Airlift Wing, one of eight Air Force Reserve C-130 wings with an airdrop and airlift mission located throughout the nation and the only Air Force Reserve C-130 wing assigned the special Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission, is one of the largest tenant organizations at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. Approximately 1,300 Reserve Airmen are assigned, of which roughly 200 are full-time, dual status federal civil service/Air Force Reserve employees as Air Reserve Technicians. The wing is assigned eight C-130H3 Hercules aircraft, which are flown by the wing's 731st Airlift Squadron.