Wing makes final preparations for inspection Published July 20, 2007 By Master Sgt. William Huntington 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- As if prepping for a final exam, 442nd Fighter Wing members have spent the last few months examining the findings of a 10th Air Force staff assistance visit and making needed corrections in advance of a scheduled Unit Compliance Inspection July 31. When the 10th AF SAV team left in April they gave a clear idea of what the Wing needed to do to face the upcoming inspection. "I don't think there were any surprises," Col. Mark Culbertson, 442nd Mission Support Squadron commander, said of the 10th AF visit. "It's been a long time since we've had a compliance inspection and they found some things, which is not surprising and not a show stopper in my opinion." According to Colonel Culbertson, the SAV findings were along the classic areas, particularly, formal training, family care plans, outdated letters of appointments and some ancillary training not up to date and members should do their best to get those areas polished up. Colonel Culbertson also believes the UCI, like the SAV, is a fairly open book and our success will depend on our actions. He outlined some things feels will help members during the inspection. "The first, and most important, thing is professionalism," he said. "Even if you don't think the inspectors are right (about certain issue), you have to maintain your professionalism. That to me is the most (important) thing. "The second thing is that sometimes we are too helpful and we go way out of our way in the 442nd to be helpful," he said. "If the inspector asks you a question about a program and you are not the regular crew chief on that program, don't try to give the answer that you 'think' is right. Find the regular crew chief for that program." Colonel Culbertson suspects that some of the SAV write-ups were actually a result of an inspector asking questions of "helpful" but not necessarily the correct member who, in turn, did their best to provide an answer in an effort to accommodate the question as quickly as possible. "They were doing the right thing by being ambitious, being helpful and being proactive," Colonel Culbertson said. "Don't try to guess; find the person that knows the answer." According to Colonel Culbertson, the third key to a successful inspection is house keeping. He believes that if the inspectors see areas that look like "rat holes" they will dig even deeper during their inspection than they might have otherwise. "If we keep all of these things in mind," Colonel Culbertson said. "If we are professional and friendly ... and don't be nervous around the inspectors ... I think we'll be okay. I believe we will be found to be in compliance." The colonel said that, unlike the past when grades were assigned to inspection results, the Wing is simply either in compliance or it is not. He added that if an area still needed to be brought up to date that there are resources available, such as mandays, for members to reach the level of compliance. "The other thing that comes with that," Colonel Culbertson said, "is that if there is something that you know is wrong with your program and you know that it is beyond the capability for you to fix, you have to let your supervisor or your commander know. Don't just say, 'well I can't fix it.''' He emphasized getting help if it's needed, but looking back at the SAV, Colonel Culbertson doesn't think there are programs in the Wing that would fall into that category. Being in compliance demonstrates the Wing's accountability in the use of the government's resources, in getting people trained properly and in safeguarding its people and assets. "Make no mistake," Colonel Culbertson said, "(the UCI) may not be as sexy as running around in gas masks, bombs going off, flying airplanes (and other things that we do) but accountability, safety and training are pretty important things''