Eyes and ears: IG ensures Airmen's stewardship

Published May 9, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Jelani Gibson
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- With more than 300,000 active duty personnel, the Air Force mission employs Airmen around the world for the sake of global vigilance, reach and power. Part of preserving air dominance is the inspector general office, which functions as the eyes and ears of Air Force senior leaders.

Conceived as a system in which procedural, systemic and programmatic weaknesses are addressed through the feedback of Airmen without fear of reprisal, the IG office exists to assist commanders with the mission of creating a trustworthy leadership atmosphere.

The 82nd Training Wing IG office is responsible for the mission of fostering an environment in which weaknesses are corrected and concerns are heard through the use of feedback sessions and inspection exercises.

"We are stewards of the taxpayers' dollars," said Lt. Col. Marcus Brazell, 82nd TRW inspector general. "We're entrusted with a certain level of public trust. Inspections help us to maintain that opus, those core competencies we need maintain that public trust."

Brazell feels through maintaining a level of trust, it creates a better work environment and a sense of self-worth for employees.

"I think it helps with the overall job satisfaction portion of it," he said. "We all have to work to maintain our livelihood, but I think it's human nature to want to feel valued, to feel like what you do matters, what you do is a help to someone--to the public at large."

Since the inspector general office also plays a large part in installation inspections, they review systematic strengths and compliance with response scenarios.

"There's always a threat to the base," said Senior Master Sgt. Brent Batten, 82nd TRW inspection superintendent. "As Air Force members, we have to continue to have plans in place to adapt and overcome, ultimately to continue the mission."

That very readiness was recently tested April 24, during an active shooter exercise. When gunshot-like sounds were heard on a side of base where the exercise wasn't supposed to be taking place, the exercise transitioned to a real-world scenario.

While the sound was eventually confirmed to be a jackhammer, Brazell notes the amount of cooperation it took between military personnel and their civilian counterparts in order to effectively respond.

"In the environment we are in now, we have to co-exist to be successful...we have to have those alliances," he said. "No one operates in a vacuum."

While local police helped divert traffic from the base and had the capacity to prepare tactical response teams, John Spragins, Wichita Falls Police Department public information officer, noted how familiarization with Sheppard's procedures for emergency scenarios also affects the surrounding community of Wichita Falls.

"We want to continue that great relationship and we want to help in any kind of incident possible," Spragins said.

With over 60,000 students and personnel coming through Sheppard annually, Spragins considers the base a pivotal part of the local populace.

"It's not a separate entity; Sheppard Air Force Base is a part of our community. When it comes to law enforcement, we want to help them with any needs they have," he said.

While Air Education and Training Command inspects the base every two years, the wing inspection team continuously inspects the installation themselves to make sure a variety of plans and training are meeting the required objectives.

"The wing or the units are providing training to the members and then we're going out there and evaluating that training in the hopes that if an incident occurs, they have that muscle memory," Batten said.

Like a quarterback on a football team practices coordination with their squad so they can perform on game day, the IG office continues to practice with Airmen day-in and day-out to make sure they can perform in air, space and cyberspace.