MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.- Various units within the 6th Air Mobility Wing completed a vital inspection at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, April 30, 2018.
This inspection, known as a Horizontal Inspection (HI), is a wing-level program that verifies the readiness of multiple units and was the first conducted in more than three years. From April 2 - 30, approximately 15 units and 37 unit type codes were inspected and validated. In addition, more than 700 man-hours and 2,000 items were validated by the wing’s Inspector General office.
Unit type codes are used to document total Air Force manpower and logistics capabilities needed to support the national military strategy during operational planning and execution activities.
During the inspection, unit deployment managers across the 6th AMW shouldered a significant portion of the workload due to their responsibility of educating their respective units on its expeditionary role, and ensuring personnel and equipment remain ready to deploy. As a result, they also acted as the main points of contact.
“They [deployment managers] led efforts to construct and maintain unit type codes, monitor the readiness of each unit member, act as the commander’s point of contact, and interface with the installation deployment office,” said Master Sgt. Mandy Thorpe, the lead inspection planner assigned to the 6th AMW IG.
Two units, the 6th Comptroller Squadron and 6th Medical Group, did not participate due to completing inspections earlier in the year.
Overall, the purpose of the inspection was not just to identify undetected non-compliance, but also to dedicate time to teaching and sharing knowledge on how to improve.
“The art of an inspection is correlating the shortfalls to education, process improvement and leveraging our teammates,” said Thorpe. “Readiness is an Air Force priority and it is imperative that MacDill is postured correctly and ready to execute at any given time.”
Key players who assisted with the inspection:
Installation Deployment Readiness Center
Mr. Joe Healey, Installation Deployment Officer
SMSgt Larnell Smith, IDRC Superintendent
MSgt Autum Curran, NCOIC Plans & Integration
TSgt Brandon Allen, NCOIC Deployments Planning & Execution
SSgt Rodolfo Terrazas, NCOIC UTC Management
SSgt April Hill, Plans & Programs
A1C Isa Sumah, Plans & Programs
A1C Aleksey Jones, Logistics Planner
Amn Shayla Cox, Logistics Planner
Outstanding Performers/Units:
Communications Squadron:
-Mr. Bryan Lamontagne, 6 CS UDM
-Best Practice: Personnel tracker (identified by Mr. Southwood)
-Cargo Increment Monitor Program
Security Forces Squadron:
-TSgt Robert Vickers, 6 SFS UDM
-Best Practice: SOP 10-403
Logistics Readiness Squadron:
-SSgt Michael Wilson, 6 LRS UDM
-Cargo Increment Monitor 6-part Folder
Maintenance Squadron:
-SSgt Nicole Finley, 6 MXS Cargo Increment Monitor
-AGE Equipment Tracker
Medical Group:
-TSgt Jason Jones, 6 MDG UDM
-In-place TDY for pre-deployment items (identified during the MDG VI)