20 things every Airman should know about a UCI Published Jan. 12, 2007 POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- 1.You are ready. The road to success began months ago, continues today, and will continue all the way up to the UCI scheduled Feb. 5 through 13. 2. Be proactive. Ask your supervisor what you can do to help. Every Airman's preparation responsibilities are going to be different depending on their job and level of responsibility, but there are things that everyone can do during the inspection that will benefit the wing immensely. 3. Work with your UCI preparation team. They're here to help you: Maj. David Brummitt, 394-1311 Capt. James Weber, 394-4837 Tech. Sgt. Erica McNair, 394-4981 4. Getting an "Outstanding" is process oriented and not based on a "Zero Findings" misperception...Know the standard and be working toward it with intention. You get a Satisfactory Grade by following the checklist. You get an Excellent with high attention to detail following checklists. You get an Outstanding by looking beyond the checklist and dealing with the purpose and reason of your unit function. 5. Use the checklists. The AMC Web page (https://private.amc.af.mil/ig/html/ucijun04.cfm) provides checklists that will be used for the UCI. XP has provided a UCI index that will come in handy when you need to know what your unit is required to do by other squadrons. The index gives a breakout of 24 UCI Mission Areas, Special Interest Items and Common Core Compliance Areas. 6. Conduct regular UCI preparation meetings. Unit leadership should be meeting frequently with their teams to tackle issues and set suspense dates for corrective actions. Time is running out! 7. Maintain strong continuity books in every section. 8. When you set deadlines/suspense dates stick to them, and hold individuals accountable if they don't. 9. Understand the Wing Inspection Program definitions: - Critical Finding: Prevents mission from happening - Non Critical Finding: Doesn't prevent mission from happening, but has an effect on the mission - Information finding: No impact to mission - Limiting Factor: A factor or condition that, either temporarily or permanently, impedes mission accomplishment. - Special Interest Item: A tool to focus management attention, gather data, and assess the status of specific programs and conditions in the field. - Common Core Compliance Area: Key processes, procedures, or requirements based on by-law requirements, executive orders, DOD directives, Air Force, MAJCOM, or applicable Air National Guard instructions. 10. Monitor self-inspections closely. An Outstanding rating can be achieved only when the unit complies with nearly every inspectable item. Double check each item before crossing it off of the self inspection checklist. 11. Take "oral exams." Units should conduct mock interviews to help personnel prepare. By giving members the opportunity to verbalize answers and talk about their programs, they will approach the inspection with increased confidence. Speak clearly and with a full understanding of the topic. Try not to ramble but ensure you answer their questions thoroughly. 12. Know your strong programs as well as your weak ones. Be sure that members talk up programs the unit is proud of. If a program is weak, demonstrate how the unit is getting it up to speed. 13. Success is not fixing every discrepancy, but having a working process to identify/track findings. 14. Squadron Commanders own and track findings to closure. 15. Research current UCI trends. In addition to UCI checklists, the AMC Web site provides access to reports from all past UCIs...see what the AMC Team dinged the last base for. 16. Use customs and courtesies. Looking and being professional goes a long way. 17. Don't be argumentative. An inspector may find something you don't agree with, but explain your opinion without coming off argumentative. Be confident in what you're trying to relay to the inspector. 18. Have all documentation ready. The inspection team will want to see documentation to verify checklist items are being complied with. 19. Answer what you know and research the rest. If an inspector asks you a questions and you don't know the answer, don't guess, tell the inspector you don't know what the exact answer is, but you know where to find it and if you can get back to them. If they are asking you a question they more than likely already know the answer. 20. You are the key to Pope's success. The inspection team is interested in talking to each and every one of you from the lowest ranking Airman to the wing commander and everyone in between. Each person holds some piece of the puzzle that will ensure 100 percent compliance. (Courtesy of Pope UCI Preparation Team and Lt. Col. Prospero Castelluccio, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station)