Tuesday, December 11, 2012

TOP STORY >> 189th receives excellent rating after inspection

The 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard at Little Rock Air Force Base has received an “excellent” grade after completing a week-long consolidated unit inspection by three Air Force inspection agencies.

The inspection team had approximately 80 inspectors from the Air Education and Training Command Inspector General’s Office, the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air National Guard Logistics Compliance and Assessment Program staff.

The team of inspectors scoured thousands of documents and evaluated hundreds of checklist items in offices throughout the wing to gauge the unit’s compliance with standardized processes, procedures, laws and regulations in their day-to-day operations.

Col. Steve Eggensperger, commander of the 189th Airlift Wing, said, “I am very pleased with the overall excellent grade our wing has received. This feedback from the inspection team serves to validate our procedures and our readiness to perform missions in support of national defense and domestic operations. This grade should reinforce to the citizens of Arkansas that the Arkansas Air National Guard is a highly effective, nimble and fiscally responsible organization. I’m very proud of our Arkansas airmen.”

Col. Ken Frollini, the inspection team leader, said, “The men and women of the 189th have set the bar high with every group exceeding the standard and achieving an excellent rating. The strong workforce, technical proficiency and keen attention to detail across the wing ensured a culture of compliance everywhere we inspected.”

The 189th Airlift Wing is one of three airlift wings at Little Rock Air Force Base.

The 189th is part of the C-130 Formal Training Unit and trains aircrew members in all crew positions to perform combat airlift operations worldwide.

This year, the 189th trained 319 students in various flying courses. The wing also provides trained members to deploy and provide expeditionary combat support for Air Force units operating at forward locations.

The wing’s deployment commitment involves more than 400 members who maintain a heightened level of combat readiness.