23.1 Air Force Inspection System (AFH-1 Section 20A)
Key Takeaways
- DAFI 90-302 states that AFIS enables commanders' effectiveness, motivates discipline, improves unit performance, and identifies issues interfering with readiness, economy, efficiency, discipline, effectiveness, compliance, performance, and surety.
- A validated, accurate, and trusted Commander's Inspection Program is the cornerstone of the Air Force Inspection System and improves readiness, efficiency, discipline, effectiveness, compliance, and surety at Wing level.
- The Unit Effectiveness Inspection is a multi-year external continual evaluation of Wing performance on four Major Graded Areas: managing resources, leading people, improving the unit, and executing the mission.
- Wing, Delta, and equivalent Inspectors General execute the CCIP, validate unit self-assessments, and provide the commander an independent assessment of unit effectiveness.
- Inspection reports categorize validated data as strengths, deficiencies, or recommended improvement areas, and Inspectors General should not duplicate findings already entered in IGEMS or MICT.
Why AFIS Exists
The Inspection System of the Department of the Air Force (AFIS) provides commanders a credible, independent assessment process to measure the capabilities of assigned forces. DAFI 90-302 states four purposes: enable and strengthen commanders' mission effectiveness and efficiency; motivate and promote military discipline; improve unit performance and management excellence throughout the chain of command; and identify, report on, and analyze issues interfering with readiness, economy, efficiency, discipline, effectiveness, compliance, performance, and surety.
Commanders at all levels continuously evaluate force readiness and organizational economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Supervisors at all levels play an integral part through continual assessment of personnel, programs, and their areas of responsibility. Staff Sergeants and Technical Sergeants both test Section 20A at ADTC B (Understanding).
The Inspector General
The Inspector General (TIG) is the functional and force management proponent for the DAF IG system and communicates directly with the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations, and other USAF and USSF command elements on IG matters. TIG provides guidance and oversight to the Air Force Inspection Agency (AFIA) and AFOSI.
The IG mission is to independently assess and report on the discipline, readiness, economy, efficiency, and overall readiness of the DAF to the SecAF through inquiries, investigations, and inspections. Programs that carry that mission: AFIS; the Complaints Resolution Program; and portions of the Insider Threat and Antiterrorism Programs.
IGs at all levels are the "eyes and ears" of the commander, but the role is aligned to remove perceived conflicts of interest, lack of independence, or apprehension about the chain of command. The primary charge is a credible DAF IG system with complaint resolutions — including investigations — characterized by objectivity, integrity, and impartiality, serving RegAF, Reserve, and Guard members; civilian employees, family members, and retirees through objective fact-finding.
Wing, Delta, and equivalent IGs execute the commander's inspection program; validate and verify unit self-assessments; provide an independent assessment of unit effectiveness; inform the commander of potential areas of concern as reflected by trends; function as the fact finder and honest broker in complaint resolution; educate and train commanders and the base population on DAF IG rights and responsibilities; and help commanders prevent, detect, and correct FWA and mismanagement. Airmen and Guardians may contact the IG to report systematic, programmatic, or procedural weaknesses or to seek assurance that resources are used effectively and efficiently.
IG selection. Selectees are functional experts with broad contemporary experience who should show the highest professional standards and moral character, potential for future service and continued promotion, and credibility for those who seek assistance. They must hold a commensurate security clearance; have no civil conviction except minor offenses; have neither court-martial conviction, non-judicial punishment, nor a UIF in the official military personnel file; and present good military bearing and appearance. Nuclear surety inspection inspectors need prior nuclear experience or experience applicable to current systems in the respective MAJCOM.
Gatekeepers
The Air Force Inspection Scheduling Process (Gatekeeper) synchronizes inspection efforts to maximize unit training days and inspection resource usage, build out-year schedules, and align non-AF inspection requirements. Gatekeepers ensure independent, efficient inspection on behalf of the command chain and that a commander's priorities take precedence over non-mission essential activities. Their authority: approve, disapprove, schedule, deconflict, and eliminate duplication between all inspection-type activities on behalf of their commanders.
AFIS, CCIP, and the UEI
A validated, accurate, and trusted CCIP is the cornerstone of AFIS. The UEI does not replace the CCIP; it evaluates the CCIP. For nuclear-capable units, the NSI runs as a component of the UEI.
| Component | Who conducts it | What AFH 1 says it does |
|---|---|---|
| AFIS | DAF inspection system | Credible, independent assessment of assigned-force capabilities |
| CCIP | Wing/Delta IG for the wing commander | Cornerstone of AFIS. Improves readiness, efficiency, discipline, effectiveness, compliance, and surety at Wing level. Provides the right information at the right time to assess risk, identify improvements, determine root causes, and focus limited resources on the Commander's priorities and timeline. Illuminates adequacy of policy, training, manpower and personnel, funds, equipment, and facilities |
| UEI | MAJCOM IGs and the DAFIA on wings and wing-equivalents | Multi-year external continual evaluation of Wing performance on four Major Graded Areas. Helps the wing commander see the greatest risk from undetected non-compliance. Evaluates the CCIP for accuracy, adequacy, and relevance, and independently assesses resource management, leadership, process improvement, and mission execution |
| NSI | MAJCOM IGs, as a component of the UEI | Evaluates a certified nuclear-capable unit to manage nuclear resources and execute nuclear missions safe, secure, and reliable via performance and compliance-based inspections |
Four Major Graded Areas: managing resources, leading people, improving the unit, and executing the mission. Do not confuse them with IG-mission nouns (discipline, readiness, economy, efficiency) or finding categories (strengths, deficiencies, recommended improvement areas).
Unit Self-Assessment and Findings
A primary AFIS objective is a culture of critical self-assessment and continuous improvement that reduces reliance on external teams. The self-assessment program's primary purpose is to identify and report issues so Airmen feel they can safely report what's true, not what they believe the commander or IG expects. An effective USAP has Airmen report compliance, and when they cannot comply, the constraints that prevent it.
MICT is the USAF program of record for managing USAPs. Self-Assessment Communicators (SACs) improve compliance with published guidance and communicate risk and program health up and down the chain. They ask shop-level Airmen and Guardians to self-report compliance or non-compliance and may be tailored at the lowest Wing administrative levels.
Inspection reports document findings including safety, surety, or issues of military discipline. Validated data is categorized as strengths, deficiencies, or recommended improvement areas. IGs should not duplicate deficiencies already entered in IGEMS, MICT, or other self-assessment tracking by the inspected organization.
What are the four Major Graded Areas of the Unit Effectiveness Inspection?
A wing superintendent asks what the Unit Effectiveness Inspection actually evaluates about the Commander's Inspection Program. What does AFH 1 say?
What does AFH 1 identify as the cornerstone of the Air Force Inspection System?
According to AFH 1, what is the primary purpose of the unit self-assessment program?