IG inspections ensure Ramstein sustains its readiness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jordan Castelan
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Once upon a time, the Inspector General approached inspections as the mode to identify and eliminate problems - today, the IG has been redesigned with a more efficient way to accomplish the same goals while ensuring readiness is maintained.

This new commander inspection program is a way to test Airmen's abilities and sustain a constant readiness.

The theory behind the CCIP is to keep bases in a constant evaluation cycle, which eliminates a need for some bases to "ramp up" and prep for its next inspection.

"We plan, coordinate and conduct inspections to strengthen the commander's ability to focus on our most important missions," said Capt. Drumarie Grandon, 86th Airlift Wing exercise and inspections coordinator. "We ensure the wing commander is sufficiently informed in order to assess risk, and identify areas of improvement."

The wing inspection team, or WIT, provides an outside-the-unit perspective and acts as an outlet for agencies to inform the IG where problematic areas and procedures lie. This team becomes the new "inspectors" and replaces the old way of thinking of exercising wing capabilities.

"First and foremost, we had to create a whole new inspection system," said Col. Scott Morris, the 86th AW IG. "Our Air Force Instruction was completely rewritten and we had to create the entire program from scratch."

There is no longer a need for units to plan and prepare under the new inspection program. Readiness is something the chain of command expects all Airmen to have every day.