Team BLAZE on track

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Charles Dickens
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Nearly 750 Team BLAZE members gathered in Hangar 3 on Monday, Feb. 11 to hear the results of the Wing's Consolidated Unit Inspection conducted Feb 4-8.

Col. Jim Sears, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander started out by giving special recognition to several key players in helping the CUI run as smoothly as it did, including: Lt. Col. Tim Lawrence, 14th FTW CUI Project Officer and Chief of Wing Inspections, Master Sgt. Angela Coleman, Wing Inspections NCOIC, Lt. Col. Russ Donaldson, 14th FTW Inspector General and CUI Logistics Point of Contact and 1st Lt. Juliana Bean, 14th Communications Squadron, IG Work Center POC.

Sears went on to note that, for the first time in Air Education and Training Command, ten total inspections were executed simultaneously, including a no-notice Non-Surety Radioactive Material inspection of the 14th Medical Operations Squadron. Overall there were over 61,000 items inspected which equates to at least 20 items per Airman.

Team BLAZE either met or exceeded standards, with the 14th Medical Group receiving an "Outstanding" on their Health Services Inspection (HSI). The base met the standards for the following inspections: Airfield Operations Compliance Inspection (AOCI), Standardization and Evaluation Program - Weather Operations (SEPWO), Air Force Meteorology and Calibration (AFMETCAL), Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program Assessment (ESOHCAMP), Logistics Compliance Assessment Program (LCAP), Uniformed Code of Military Justice Article 6, Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation Visit (ASEV), a no-notice Non-Surety Radioactive Material Inspection and the AETC Inspector General's compliance inspection (CUI).

During the inspections, several programs and units garnered special recognition. The Sexual Assault and Response Coordinator, Information Protection and Aircrew Performance programs all received an "Outstanding" score during the CUI. Thirty-nine other base programs or units received a rating of "Excellent" from the AETC inspectors. The inspectors also identified 190 strengths that will be shared throughout the Command.

"We set a very high bar in August for the base overall to receive an "Excellent" and the results of the inspection are something that all 2,997 members of Team BLAZE should be proud of," said Sears. "The AETC/IG's expectation is to meet standards and it is a great accomplishment to have them validate the fact that the 14th FTW meets, and often times exceeds, standards and means that there will not be another CUI for at least two years."

Sears stressed that "compliance is not something we do every 2 years. Now that the inspection is completed, we need to take the IG feedback and use what we have learned to make all of Team BLAZE better" continued Sears. "I am proud of what all the men and women of the 14th FTW accomplished during the CUI and thank all of you and your families for a job well done!"