Capstone inspection demystified

  • Published
  • By Maj. Jerry Snider
  • 934th Airlift Wing IGI
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION --  As you should have heard by now, the 934th AW Capstone inspection will soon be upon us.  Here's some facts that should clarify what it's about and what it is designed to accomplish.

From March 12-17  all 934 AW units will be going through an AFRC/IG Capstone event which will verify and validate our programs.  The Capstone is a culminating event that ends the current 24-30 month Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI). Both the Capstone and UEI are processes of the Air Force's new inspection process called the Air Force Inspection System (AFIS).  AFIS restores the inspection business back to the wing commander by utilizing the Directorate of Inspections (IGI) office to implement the wing's inspection program.  AFIS significant changes include: 

1. First and foremost it Eliminates the need for major inspection prep.  Many of us remember the old process of cleaning our buildings, making checklists green and providing laser focus on non-compliant programs.  AFIS clearly states that units are Not to prep for inspections.  Needless prep and endless hours of planning to ensure a passing grade are things of the past.  Mission Readiness = Inspection Readiness is now the goal. 

2. Avoids program decay/increases accountability.  AFIS allows units to review programs on continual basis during a UEI period.  Commanders are required to communicate their programs through continuous Management Internal Controls Toolset validation.  This avoids program decay by focusing on programs continuously versus right before a major inspection.  On a quarterly basis commanders review the top deficiencies within each unit during the Commanders Inspection Management Board (CIMB), chaired by the wing commander.  With this approach AFIS will keep our weak areas on the radar throughout the year.

3. Units should be identifying deficient areas.  If you have a non-compliant program, AFIS encourages you to identify those non-compliant areas.  The key to success is for units to identify problems and have a plan to fix them. Bottom line - Know your program from top to bottom to include strong and weak areas.

4. Smaller IG inspection footprint = Less in-depth inspection.  By looking at programs continuously and virtually the Capstone report is about 80-90% completed by the time the IG arrives. This is accomplished via a FAM analysis of MICT and other programs several months prior to a Capstone event.  The IG uses this info to focus their on-site plan to validate/verify programs.  With virtual reviews conducted prior to a Capstone visit the IG footprint is about 40-60 inspectors which leads to a less in-depth inspection.