Fairchild IG helps commanders keep people focused on mission

Published Sept. 29, 2011
By Master Sgt. Terry Knight
92nd Air Refueling Wing Inspector General

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- When an Airman is asked about the Office of the Inspector General, the typical response is negative. The perception is that the IG is "out to get you."
     In the case of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing Installation IG office led by Lt. Col Jim O'Connell, that could not be further from the truth, at least in our office. Most do not realize that in the Air Mobility Command Inspector General realm, there are two parts to our business. The first, where the negative perception comes from, is the Inspections Directorate. The second, where our office gets its mandate, is the Complaints Resolution Directorate. The office's primary responsibility is to "look for the truth" and to get the Airman's attention back on the mission at hand. Believe it or not, we are here to help.
     Simply put, our mission is to work for the commanders and to act as their "eyes and ears" of command as well as to properly administer the Air Force's Fraud, Waste and Abuse program. As fact gatherers, we can only make recommendations and do not have the authority to punish nor make policy.
     We are charged with educating the base populace on their rights and responsibilities in regards to the IG system. As most people well know, an ounce of prevention, or education, will go a long way to helping minimize turmoil. Whether providing briefings at Right Start, the First Term Airman Center or briefing commanders and supervisors with the latest issues, we hope to knock down small fires before they grow larger and consume more Airmen's attention.
     As our office continues to get the word out, you'll see us out and about in work areas. The purpose of these 'walkabouts' is to see and hear what is going on, and how that information impacts the wing's ability to execute its mission.
     We are here to serve all Active Duty, Air National Guard (in some cases), retirees, civilian employees, and of course, dependants.
     Just to reiterate, our office cannot punish people, make policy nor advocate for the complainant. The goal is to find the facts and the truth (absent of any outside influence). Findings from inquiries and investigations are then reported to respective leadership within the wing so proper resolutions or measures can be developed to solve the issue as well as put policies in place to prevent future issues.
     In the end, our ultimate goal is to help commanders keep their people focused on mission accomplishment by using fact-finding methodologies to seek out systemic issues that affect the organization.
     If an Airman is distracted due to an issue, they can lose their focus and negatively impact their team which, in turn, impacts the mission.
    More information is located on the IG Share Point Site at https://eim.amc.af.mil/org/92ds/ig/default.aspx. For fraud, waste and abuse concerns, questions about the proper avenue to resolve a complaint or just a general question about something that doesn't seem quite right, stop by our office in Bldg. 2245, room 229B (just above finance), or call us at 247-1137/1138. People can also e-mail us at 92arw.ig@fairchild.af.mil.