Maintenance, logistics Airmen tackle LCAP

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen from the 35th Maintenance Group and Mission Support Group's Logistic Readiness Squadron put their best foot forward while undergoing a Logistics Compliance Assessment Program inspection here, Oct. 18 to 22.

The inspection, conducted every two years and driven by Pacific Air Forces and Air Combat Commands' team of evaluator, is currently assessing performance logistic processes in both units for technical compliance, safety and standardization.

The LCAP inspection is graded on the pass/fail rate of the nearly 2,000 inspections, however the raw percentage does not determine the outcome. Any direct safety violations, technical data violations or unsatisfactory conditions deducts from the total score, which will fall within a 5-tier rating scale (outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory).

The maintenance group, the largest under the microscope, has four squadrons and more than 1,100 Airmen involved in the inspection process. Joined with about 230 LRS Airmen presently working within the squadron's operation and compliance, deployment and distribution, fuels, material management and vehicle maintenance flights, they are under a watchful eye of 36 inspectors specialized in each of the units' many functions.

"I think we will prove that Misawa flies safe, reliable aircraft, and that our processes are sound," said Master Sgt. Jerome Bristow, 35th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance chief inspector.

In doing so, Sergeant Bristow said the expectations for Airmen stand with following the Air Force Core Values as well as their pillars of maintenance - integrity, training, documentation, safety and following all technical orders.

Although many MXG Airmen returned from a deployment this month, they are ready for the inspection, he added, along with those who have been preparing the past 45 days when the base was notified of the inspection.

While both groups undergo the inspectors' walk-arounds and steady flow of questions that test their job knowledge, proficiency and procedures, they stay connected to each other by helping accomplish their respective missions.

"The MXG relies on LRS to get us everything we need ... fuel, parts, vehicles, all the way down to our office supplies," said Sergeant Bristow. "Without supplies, we would only have some really nice taxiway decorations sitting on the ramp."

Most of the supply process works on a 'just in time' concept with some parts warehoused at Misawa," he added. "Parts are received from all over the world to sustain our aircraft. LRS works our priority items to get them here as quickly as possible. This does not happen well without a little ingenuity and priority setting from all members assigned to the logistics world."

The previous LCAP inspection for the 35th LRS resulted in a high pass rate of 99.1 percent contributing to an overall wing score of 84.24 percent.

"Attitudes seem positive throughout the multi-faceted, 7-AFSC squadron," said Master Sgt. Theresa Wilson, 35th LRS NCOIC of Compliance Analysis and unit LCAP representative. "We hope to do very well; we work hard every day and would like the inspectors to validate that."

Sergeant Wilson said she is proud of the squadron for the time and work put forward to prepare for the inspection, which included conducting self-inspections, unit compliance and LCAP checklists on a regular basis.