FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. -- – Air Combat Command inspectors visited the 144th Fighter Wing July 13-17, 2017 to evaluate the wing’s ability to perform its mission with a Unit Effectiveness Inspection, or UEI.
A UEI measures four Major Graded Areas, which focus on management of resources, improving the unit, leading people, and executing the mission.
The Major Graded Areas show the Air Force that the unit is a well-run organization, not just in time for an inspection, but rather all of the time.
“The inspection focused on aligning the four major grades areas with my priorities for the wing,” said Col. Reed Drake, 144th Fighter Wing commander. “The UEI is our opportunity to showcase the exceptional work we do at the Wing, as well as to emphasize our innovative processes.”
On July 17, the 144th Fighter Wing was awarded an overall score of “Effective” by the ACC Inspection Team. The wing received an Effective rating in three of the four Major Graded Areas, with a Highly Effective rating in the area of executing the mission.
“I am very proud of the men and women of the 144th Fighter Wing,” said Col. Drake. “Their tireless efforts and hard work made this a successful inspection and showed the IG team that we are a fully operational F-15 unit that knows how to get the job done!”
Previous inspections involved major readiness exercises called ORIs and compliance inspections called UCIs. These inspections where singular events to test Air Force unit’s readiness or inspect compliance with Air Force and other policies. UEIs differ from the previous inspections.
Inspections now culminate a two-year continuous virtual inspection where the unit’s overall grade is based on performance throughout the inspection period. The on-site component (that the 144th FW just completed) focuses on the unit’s own inspection process and its ability to identify non-compliance and resolve those deficiencies.
This was the first UEI for the 144th Fighter Wing.
“This was our first inspection under this new system and we hit a home run,” said Col. Drake. “I am so proud to lead such an amazing group of Airmen.”