Arnold rated 'Excellent' by headquarters inspectors

  • Published
  • By Darbie Sizemore
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  For more than six months, Arnold personnel have been preparing for the base's third Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI). That hard work paid off when the base received an overall score of "excellent" from the inspectors. 

"You can all be justifiably proud of this grade which is the result of a lot of hard work and perseverance to get to this point," Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) Commander Col. Art Huber said. "We have been looked at very closely by an independent assessor who examined us to a much greater level of scrutiny than most larger installations get." 

A team of 55 inspectors from Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Headquarters spent a week at Arnold looking at virtually all of the functional disciplines to determine how well each perform with regard to Arnold's mission. 

The UCI allows local commanders and AFMC Headquarters to see how well AEDC accomplishes its mission at the Center level down to each individual squadron and three-letter organization. It also highlights AEDC best practices that can be shared throughout AFMC. 

"Every single one of you had a play in this and can feel good about your contribution," Colonel Huber said. "Not one unit was found to rate below 'Satisfactory,' meaning there were no 'Marginal' or 'Unsatisfactory' grades, which is truly phenomenal. All common core and special interest items were rated 'In Compliance' or 'Satisfactory' which is the best you can do in these categories." 

Although the base did receive an "Excellent" ranking, there were several findings that require corrective actions, some of which have already been addressed. 

Lt. Col. Cameron Habbick, the AEDC Inspector General, jointly with the Plans and Programs Directorate will track the status of all findings. Corrective actions for major findings will be closed-out with AFMC Headquarters. 

"While we did rate extremely well," said Maj. Kurt Rouser, the lead for AEDC's UCI preparations, "there are a few administrative and procedural items that the team found that we are working to change. These findings indicate that although we are doing our jobs well; we need to ensure proper training and documentation. There were only a couple of findings that may require some hardware or waivers to gain compliance."
Major Rouser also pointed out that everyone at AEDC, whether interviewed by an inspector or not, contributed to Arnold's successful evaluation. 

"What this inspection rating means is that the entire AEDC team knows its job and knows it well," he said. "Just because you may not have seen an inspector last week doesn't mean that you did not contribute to the score. This inspection was only a sampling across the Center, but we were all ready to demonstrate our team excellence."
The inspection team also recognized several individuals and teams as "outstanding performers." 

"The individuals and teams who were acknowledged as 'outstanding' really set themselves apart during the inspection through exceptional job knowledge and expertise," Major Rouser said. "Particular strengths highlighted in the UCI report include Test and Evaluation and Engineering processes, Arc Flash Prevention and Lock-Out/Tag-Out programs, and Electronic Records Management and Software License Management programs." 

On a final note, Major Rouser emphasized the importance of not losing momentum with our newly developed self inspection program. 

"Between now and the next UCI, we need to continue rigorous self inspection activities," he said. "We should strive to have zero findings against critical functions such as safety, security and training." 

"I am very proud of you for this great accomplishment," Colonel Huber said. "We have been tested in fire and found not wanting. In fact, we have been found to set the standard."