Winter 2014 --
AMC and the Air Force Inspection System
The AFIS is "FOC"?
(What does that mean, and what's next?)
On 1 Oct 2014, the "new" Air Force Inspection System (AFIS) met the SecAF's deadline for reaching full operational capability or "FOC." But beyond the metrics in the SecAF's Program Action Directive, what does "FOC" mean to Airmen? It means mission command is fully vested in wing leadership ... and for the continuing maturity of AFIS, that is great news.
The goals and metrics for AFIS implementation included basic parameters for manpower, training, and program startup actions that would bring awareness and execution to this USAF priority. However, none of those metrics required MAJCOM validation of wing metrics or a minimum "grade" before declaring FOC. That's because the new program focuses on the wing commander and his or her ability to prioritize efforts to ensure effective mission readiness and to measure and assess those efforts to expose weaknesses or blind spots.
Why should Airmen still care about implementation of the AFIS?
Our verbiage for "FOC" is usually defined as the point when a specific activity "reaches maturity." Admittedly, we're not there yet. We've achieved most of the SecAF's goals for AFIS implementation, and they allow each wing and MAJCOM to continue UEI operations for the foreseeable future. However, the potential for vastly improving the system is still untapped.
The recent release of AFI 1-2, "Commander's Responsibilities," highlighted a more proactive role for all commanders and ultimately--to "leaders at ALL levels"--in meeting AF requirements for a successful AF culture, for upholding AF standards, and for executing the AF mission successfully by leading people, managing resources, and improving every unit.
Another reason to keep the AFIS in focus is that it's still "new" to many Airmen. The Unit Effectiveness Inspection and its underlying concept of continual evaluation is not the same set of "inspection ROE" we all grew up with under legacy functional inspections or the IG's own ORIs, CUIs or CIs. The IG no longer performs "1,000 task evals" combined with repeated "Ability to Survive and Operate" scenarios. It is now up to the wing commander's inspection program (CCIP) to establish that baseline for compliance and readiness.
We spend a lot of time selling the point that "inspection prep" is a bad thing under the AFIS, but you should not confuse that with the need to accomplish your normal work requirements in a timely manner. The "painting the grass green" analogy is still a good rule of thumb here--if you find yourself doing some last minute reprinting of files for a continuity book that no one uses, you might be doing "inspection prep." But if you are not compliant with a particular requirement and need additional hours, resources, or personnel to get the job done ... that's just "work" and it doesn't matter if you're doing it six months or six days prior to a Capstone event.
Along those lines, your performance and your readiness is now graded over time through the IG's "photo album" of continual evaluation--NOT just for brief acts of brilliance in the last days before an IG visit. In our grading scheme, a program that gets cleaned up in the 23rd month of a 24-month UEI cycle gets a "C," even if you benchmarked it from someone else's "Best Practice" program. If you want an "A" from the IG, identify your problems in a timely fashion and make sure your fixes get prioritized appropriately among your wing's other urgent needs.
What has the AFIS achieved for us so far?
Commanders are becoming significantly more aware of the true state of their compliance and readiness, and they are using that awareness for better resource decisions. Airmen have a more active "voice" for their concerns and for identifying discrepancies to their chain of command with less fear of reprisal or retribution. Units are accepting measured operational risk in order to better utilize Airmen's time, to share government assets or resources appropriately, and to rekindle the spirit of innovation among Airmen. Previously unmonitored performance areas are being highlighted either as blind spots needing work or as strengths deserving positive recognition. And the time available to wings--white space on the calendar--is expanding to accommodate the localized needs of each unique installation and mission set rather than a laundry list of annual exercise requirements.
What is next for the AFIS?
Our next step is improving the fidelity of continual evaluation so wings receive more active feedback from their MAJCOM staffs about their self-assessments. In some cases, that means changing the way that MAJCOMs provide oversight and assistance in their "organize, train and equip" role.
Changes to nuclear support inspections are also on the way. Each applicable wing should have included nuclear missions within the commander's own inspection program, but the next phase of change will move that further forward. As we transition the legacy Nuclear Surety and Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspections under the UEI umbrella, we are carefully and deliberately evaluating what we can delegate to the wing level while still retaining certain critical observation requirements at the MAJCOM. This will be a cooperative effort led by AMC/IG with assistance from AMC/A3N and virtually every nuclear support wing.
Before 2015 kicks off, even the primary AFI 90-201 should get an update. We've been listening to your feedback about how we can fine-tune AFIS processes. We adjusted "mandatory inspection items" with Interim Change 1 to AFI 90-201 back in August 2014. This next review will incorporate this change, as well as other issues needing clarification.
What should we be doing differently?
If you are waiting for your first UEI Capstone event to make this cultural change, you are behind the power curve. The results are pouring in ... and the AFIS is continuing to show that it's the best change we've made in over 30 years in the inspection business. The teams who move ahead are already reaping the benefits. Those who delay are missing an opportunity.
Make it work for YOUR organization. Ideas and templates from others are a good starting point, but we've been emphasizing from the very beginning how each wing's missions, priorities, and problem areas are unique. Your CCIPs and dashboard tools should fit that uniqueness.
Call it like it is--that goes for every level of command from the wing commander all the way to the Airman who owns a particular process in that wing. This system can help everyone do their jobs better through open awareness, communication, and risk-based decisionmaking. If you find yourself worrying about how the IG might "grade your work," just remember that it will be significantly worse if you report something "green" that is actually "red." Embracing the reds is a sign that your organizational climate is healthy and capable of self-correcting its problems. THAT is what the IG needs to see in the "new" AFIS.
AMC Commander's Message:
Congratulations, AMC! October 2014 marks an important step forward for the Air Force Inspection System--a significant milestone in our journey to change the world of inspections. Thank you for being incredibly hard-charging catalysts to help Air Mobility Command lead this change. The successful launch of AFIS across our mobility enterprise is testament to your innovation, your hard work, and the trust you have been given through your commanders. Ultimately, our success in managing our resources, leading our people, and improving our units--while simultaneously continuing to execute the Rapid Global Mobility mission--highlights how the heart and soul of AFIS thrives within our mobility warriors.