Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth ready for inspection

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The warriors of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth are once again ready to be tested and ready to overcome another challenge. For the past 45 days, 55th Wing Airmen have spent many hours ensuring they're ready for the first Air Combat Command Logistics Compliance Assessment in Offutt's history.

Select Offutt organizations are scheduled to be assessed Nov. 16 - 19 and the assessment team's out briefing to senior leaders is set for Nov. 20. The inspection will evaluate how well Offutt units perform logistics operations.

Col. Michael J. Allshouse, 55th Mission Support Group commander, said the LCAP assessment is a critical one and something Team Offutt is ready for.

"An LCAP Assessment is both a hands-on, over-the-shoulder evaluation and paperwork review similar to a unit compliancy inspection," Colonel Allshouse said. Many units and Airmen have been preparing for this moment by running their respective checklists and exercising their skills.

"The goal for this assessment is to show ACC that Offutt is prepared for both garrison and expeditionary missions every day," Colonel Allshouse said.

A large part of the LCAP Assessment consists of evaluations of the 55th Maintenance Group, 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 55th Maintenance Squadron and 55th Maintenance Operations Squadron, as well as logistics personnel from the 97th Intelligence Squadron and the 55th MSG.

Maj. Danny L. Walters, 55th MOS commander, said his Airmen, as well as those in the 55th MXG, are prepared for the upcoming inspection.

"Our Airmen have been scrutinizing every detail of their individual operations, from housekeeping to [plans] execution," Major Walters said. "From leadership to shop levels, we've continuously examined our adherence to instructions regarding roles, responsibilities and process, as well as in-depth analysis of discrepancies from previous inspections, staff assistance visits and internal reviews."

The LCAP Assessment will be a detailed look across all logistics functions, including flight line and aircraft maintenance operations to management and equipment, Major Walters said.

The Air Force uses inspections like the LCAP to ensure units comply with Air Force instructions and Air Force directives. Complying with Air Force policy is something Major Walters said the Airmen of the 55th MXG do every day.

The 55th Wing recently reached a major milestone surpassing 7,000 continuous days deployed with the RC-135V/W aircraft, a feat made possible by the extraordinary efforts of the 55th Wing's logistics teams for the past 19 years, Major Walters said.

"We are ready for this inspection, we've meticulously reviewed every detail of our logistics operations and we have provided the backbone of support for 55th Wing combat operations in Southwest Asia for almost 20 years," Major Walters added.