Inspection begins next week Published May 5, 2015 By Col. Michael A. Vogel 66th Air Base Group commander HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- As I'm sure most of you are aware by now, Hanscom AFB will welcome the Air Force Materiel Command Inspector General team next week for an inspection. As the installation commander, I see this as an excellent opportunity to showcase the great things Team Hanscom does right to provide the warfighter's edge. Last year, the Air Force changed its inspection process and, while some of the events will be similar to previous Operational Readiness Inspections or Combined Unit Inspections, this new process focuses on four major graded areas and looks to help commanders identify what problems exist where. Managing Resources, Leading People, Improving the Unit and Executing the Mission are the four major graded areas to be evaluated. Although a good portion of the inspection will be virtual and is already ongoing, a significant number of inspectors will be here from May 12 to 22. The inspectors will evaluate specific items including a base exercise and our response, how well we comply with Air Force Instructions, and how well we self-assess those programs. Additionally, they will conduct both mandatory and voluntary interviews with personnel, to explore areas identified by the survey many of you took a few weeks ago. If you get a chance to speak with an inspector, be honest and take the chance to emphasize the important work you do. Highlight what sets you, your team, or Hanscom AFB apart from other units. Make sure you get credit for the great work you and your teammates do every day! If you or your unit have innovative processes, highlight them and point out how they impact the mission. Unique solutions often have reach beyond Hanscom, and perhaps a process implemented here will become a "best practice" for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command, or potentially even the Air Force. If there are issues that you believe need addressing, mention them, but don't just focus on the negative - be prepared with a proposed solution. Senior leadership from your organizations will personally be receiving an outbrief from the inspection team on May 22 and will work hard to ensure that all findings - good and bad - are shared with you as soon as possible. Thank you for all you do for the AFLCMC mission and to secure, support, and sustain Team Hanscom and, ultimately, our warfighters.