Fairchild prepares for self-assessment Published Oct. 9, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Sam Fogleman 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings will be the first KC-135 Total Force Integration organization to implement the Unit Effectiveness Inspection, a higher headquarters external evaluation of wing performance based on four major graded areas: 1) Leading People; 2) Executing the Mission; 3) Managing Resources; and 4) Improving the Unit. The UEI is focused on identifying areas where risks from undetected non-compliance are greatest, which helps wing commanders identify focus areas. Base leaders will assess their units according to the checklists within the Management Internal Control Toolset self-assessment program. The MICT was initiated by the Air Force Dec. 31, 2012, as a method of making a checklist for self-inspection readily available to commanders through unit administrators. The Unit Effectiveness Inspection will happen in February, and units are already preparing to be at their best by developing better strategies for achieving standardization, accomplishing checklists and documenting processes within MICT. "MICT is part of the culture of compliance," said Lt. Col. David Parlotz, 92nd ARW Inspector General. "MICT is a tool to keep you in line with the Air Force guidance governing your mission. It keeps the Commander well-informed or up-to-date of how mission ready they are, and shows where extra attention may be needed. It is used as a foundation for Air Mobility Command inspections and the Commander's Inspection Program, commonly known as CCIP." MICT is a web-based process designed to keep a consistent compilation of each unit's compliance status. "MICT is an interactive application which will aid units in managing various inspections and programs," said Maj. Sean Howlett, 92nd ARW director of inspections. "Leaders at all levels are able track and manage programs and discrepancies. Starting from the lowest level, program administrators and their designated representatives are able to access appropriate checklists and program requirements. They can conduct self-inspection checklists for later viewing by unit leadership and inspection teams." MICT annotates continuous compliance, while documenting improvements for areas of discrepancy. "MICT managers should 'operate' MICT with everyone in their work centers, not just fill it out and forget it," Parlotz said. "Everyone should know what compliant items are in the checklist and whether they are deficient or not. Managers should brief their commander and work center on their compliance monthly. It takes everyone working together to accomplish the mission and comply with Air Force directives." Each unit at Fairchild must quickly adapt in order to meet the MICT parameters. "A sound CCIP forms a cornerstone of the revitalized Air Force Inspection System, described in Air Force Instruction 90-201 released in August of this year," said Col. Brian Hill, 92nd ARW vice commander. "MICT is a key component of Team Fairchild's CCIP across the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings." Fairchild's leadership sees the new inspection methodology as an opportunity for the base to showcase its strengths. "For our respective wing commanders, Col. Newberry and Col. Swain, maximum utilization of MICT's self-assessment capability is essential to bolstering Fairchild's Total Force Culture of Compliance thereby reducing risks of undetected non-compliance," Hill said. "In order for this culture to shine during the upcoming UEI and beyond, our installation units and work centers must leverage MICT to effectively report program compliance and management on a continuing basis."