Self Inspection Programs: Why they're important

  • Published
  • By Tamara Deshner
  • 341st Missile Wing self-inspection monitor
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Self-inspections provide an effective means of assessing mission performance and organizational effectiveness through internal review. Use your Self-Inspection Program to prepare your organization for mission readiness.

Lt. Gen. Stephen P. Mueller, Inspector General of the Air Force, stated in his September The Inspector General brief, "My intent as the Inspector General is to continuously improve the Air Force Inspection System so there is an ever-shrinking difference - both real and perceived - between mission readiness and inspection readiness."

As Wing One diligently strives for continual mission readiness through self-inspection, we will inherently be inspection ready.

Having a viable Self-Inspection Program ensures each functional area and work center is periodically inspected. It also helps to gauge unit strengths, illuminate problem areas and provide feedback to leaders. These internal reviews are conducted using job-specific checklists developed by career-field experts. Currently we are using the Management Internal Control Toolset to accomplish and track checklists, and identify deficiencies.

Diligent completion of these checklists helps in identifying the critical things you need to correct in order to better accomplish the mission. You are assessing yourself on how well you are doing your job. It is crucial to be brutally honest in your answers to your checklists and provide proof that you have verified the answer and that you have had "eyes on." It is important that we exhibit the Air Force Core Values, especially "Excellence in All We Do," as we conduct our semi-annual self-inspections.

Here are some tips I can offer for a successful SIP:

Read your Air Force Instructions. The instructions tell us what to do and why we do it. The checklists used for self-inspection are only tools to help prepare your organization to be compliant with the Air Force Instructions that pertain to your organization.

Be honest. Rather than ignoring a problem, tell your supervisor of the problem and then fix it. It is easier and less painful to correct a self-identified problem rather than have someone outside your organization address it.

Enlist outside help. If you are unfamiliar with the SIP, contact your squadron's Self-Inspection Monitor. They can offer you guidance on how to run your checklist.

Trade self-inspectors. Allowing an outsider to run your checklist will help you identify things you have missed. For example, all squadrons have a Government Purchase Card holder who runs the same checklist as yours. Why not trade self-inspectors? Others are bound to see things you may have missed.

Explain your answers. It is easy to speed through checklists with yes or no answers, but it is important to take your time and provide proof for your answers. The justifications for yes responses and explanations of no responses are what provides the proof of your program's thoroughness.

Document the results. It is important following an exercise or self-inspection to input all discrepancies into the MICT database to insure proper tracking until they are closed. Also, monthly updates to actions taken need to be put in the database to show your continual efforts to get the problem corrected.

Use the information that is out there. There are resources out there to aid in your preparation for the CUI. You can view articles on inspection preparation in the IG brief that is available on the Air Force Portal. You can also refer to AFI 90-201, which provides a clear picture of what the inspectors will be looking at.

The bottom line is that the SIP is a unit commander's responsibility and requires your due diligence in order to provide a valid assessment.

If you have any questions regarding your SIP, please feel free to contact your unit Self-Inspection Monitor or the 341st Missile Wing Self-Inspection Monitor, Tamara Deshner at 731-7068.