LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
At 4:20 a.m. Sept. 13, senior non-commissioned officers began knocking on the doors. It was the beginning of a no-notice health, safety and morale inspection of Cunningham Hall.
The inspection was directed by Brig. Gen. Mark Barrett, 1st Fighter Wing commander, to ensure unaccompanied housing residents live in a healthy environment, said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Slater, 1st FW command chief, who organized the early morning event.
"It's common for many to misconstrue a health, safety and morale inspection," Chief Slater said. "but they are an important tool for wing leadership to ensure the health and safety of our Airmen."
Residents had their rooms and personal vehicles inspected and also provided a urine specimen. The room and vehicle inspections ensured there were no prohibited items like weapons and illegal drugs, and also no unauthorized visitors were in the rooms.
"You would be surprised by the good attitudes by a majority of the residents," Chief Slater said. "I think they all understood the general intent."
Airman 1st Class John Solecki thought the inspectors could have "waited a few hours," but understood the need for the inspection.
"They want to make sure everybody's safe and sound," he said. "Everybody's been good about it. We have certain restrictions (as dorm residents), but I don't see it as a big problem."
The inspection was not a surprise for only the residents. The senior NCOs were recalled beginning at midnight with instructions to report to the dining facility where they were briefed. By 4 a.m., they were ready to execute the order.
Legal office personnel briefed the inspectors on the authority for, purpose of, and the manner in which to conduct the inspection, said Lt. Col. Leslea Pickle, 1st FW deputy staff judge advocate. The legal officers assisted the inspectors along with agents from the Office of Special Investigations and the security forces working dogs.
"We showed our ability to put together a team of about 100 people from organizations across the wing with little to no coordination prior to the event," Chief Slater said. "We were able to notify, brief, train and execute from start to finish on an operation as large as this in eight hours."
Although this was the first health, safety and morale inspection since General Barrett took command of the wing, the chief hinted that it won't be the last since the inspection focused on only one dorm.
"This is the right thing to do for the good of our Airmen," Chief Slater said. "The majority take pride in their living quarters and do a great job maintaining their dorms, and it is incumbent on leadership to make sure their efforts are not undermined by one or two Airmen."