Self Inspection Back to the Future

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
A wing-wide initiative kicked off this month to incorporate a new computer-based inspection program. 

That program called the Management Internal Control Toolkit (MICT) was designed and created by an Air Force Reserve Command team after a one-week AFSO21 Rapid Improvement Event. 

MICT is billed as an all-in-one inspection tracking and analysis toolset. The program is web-based, real time, and allows individual units and program managers to assess their programs and up-channel their internal inspection results. The HQ AFRC/IG deployed the tool to the wings October 1 for use in their self inspection programs. Local officials will to deploy this new application throughout the wing in time for the 4th Air Force Staff Assistant Visit scheduled to occur in July. 

According to wing officials the 507th Operations Group is designated lead Group to initialize local wing efforts. Their goal will be to populate the tool with responsible POC's who will conduct internal inspections. In addition wing staff agencies are also demonstrating the MICT utility by conducting inspections and submitting their results up for wing self inspection monitor visibility. 

Tools are available for all levels of leadership to manage and track programs and discrepancies. These tools are available to unit members and are permission-based dependent upon needs. Starting from the lowest level, program administrators and their assigned assistants can access applicable checklists and program requirements. Further they can conduct their self-inspection checklists, for later viewing by unit leadership and inspection teams. 

Next, functional managers can create additional checklists and assign them to members within their areas of responsibilities. As the information flows up the inspection chain, each level of authority is assigned specific roles, responsibilities, and visibility into the unit's MICT program. The roles each member in the process plays are based on permissions and visibility within MICT and ReserveNet member accounts. These permissions are set by a local administrator and can be adjusted as necessary. 

According to AFRC officials "The toolset gives commanders an automated process to report and assess unit compliance effectiveness. It enhances productivity by enabling them to identify and analyze process shortfalls and trends through a time- and cost-saving inspection analysis system." 

In other words, once self inspections results are entered and submitted, local wing, numbered Air Force and AFRC inspection monitors may see the results in a nearly virtual real time state. Commanders from the highest level on down will be able to rapidly assess inspection progress results and areas for improvement. 

The command has been field testing the toolset and made it available on the ReserveNet Web site for commandwide use last October. According to Col Mike Mahon, Wing vice commander, "...self inspection is like all other readiness items, we need to comply to ensure wartime readiness and compliance items are hand-in-glove with our wartime mission. These are warrior skills and we need to keep them razor sharp." 

For more information on the wing-wide MICT rollout, contact Lt. Col. Bonnie Tremblett at 734-5543 or Lt. Col. Donald Satterlee at 734-9001.