LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Team Langley once again affirmed its status as "America's First Team," during the recent Logistics Compliance Assessment Program evaluation, which took place Sept. 8-14.
The 1st and 192nd Maintenance Groups earned the highest Logistics Standardization and Evaluation Team evaluation pass rate in the Combat Air Forces in the past 24 months. Their LCAP score of 92.18 percent eclipses 24 other maintenance groups. In addition, the units also earned the best LCAP score of any fighter or bomber maintenance group in Air Combat Command in the past two years.
The LCAP provided leadership with an evaluation of the unit's ability to perform key logistics processes in a safe, standardized, repeatable and technically compliant manner. The inspection is based on a graded assessment with percentage scores and uses the five-tier rating scale, ranging from outstanding down through excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory.
In addition to evaluating processes, the LCAP inspectors inspected quality assurance programs, according to Col. George Zaniewski, 1 MXG commander.
"The LCAP team was here to ensure we're complying with directives, look at how our programs operate and see how our people do their day to day tasks," Zaniewski said. "The inspectors used checklists to monitor personnel evaluations, training, accountability and follow-ups on processes."
The units prepared for the week-long inspection by scrubbing their programs using the LCAP inspectors' checklists and internal manuals to ensure compliance, which involved long hours, extra hours and ingenuity.
Tech. Sgt. Walter Gontarski, 1st Equipment Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment production support section noncommissioned officer in charge, and his team designed software using a touch screen board to streamline inventory control and accountability, impressing evaluators.
"We've come up with some innovative ideas for running our section," he said. "We had a great team that put in a lot of long hours for the inspection and made the necessary changes in a short time."
Staff Sgt. Julie Satterfield, 1st Maintenance Operations Squadron time compliance technical order monitor, ensured each of more than 150 time compliance technical order, which mandate required maintenance and repair on an aircraft before being cleared for flight, was registered correctly, a major inspection item during the LCAP.
In addition, Satterfield, who also serves as the training monitor, redesigned the master training plan and brought the unit's extensive training records up to date, cross-referencing hard-copy training records against their digital Training Business Area entries.
"Earning a great evaluation made all the long hours worth it," she said.
Zaniewski praised the seamless integration of Virginia Air National Guard Airmen into the team, as LCAP evaluators were on hand during an ANG drill weekend.
"It was to the point where unless you looked in the personnel records, you wouldn't be able to distinguish Guardsmen from active duty," said Zaniewski. "The [Total Force Integration] effort is outstanding."
According to Master Sgt. Christopher Plath, the 192d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flight chief, bringing drill-status Guardsmen up to speed on new processes in a short amount of time was "particularly challenging," but that the Guardsmen stepped up and performed excellently during the inspection.
"Our Guardsmen are not used to seeing 25 strangers on the flight line asking them 'why are you doing that?' and 'why are you doing this?'" said Plath. "We made sure they were prepared and they delivered. Had it not been already established, the inspectors probably wouldn't have known they were inspecting drill-status Guardsmen."
Zaniewski said the inspection "set a very good foundation for the units to build upon," establishing areas where the units can improve.
"We're planning more group activity inspections to improve our program continuity," he said. "We're working with AFSO21 to bring our programs in line with the LCAP inspectors' checklists. It's not about looking good for the inspectors; it's about compliance on a regular basis."
While the inspection was a huge success for Team Langley, operational readiness remains the primary objective.
"We can't rest on those laurels. It's about the dynasty, not the 'Super Bowl win,'" said Zaniewski. "We have other upcoming inspections to prepare for."
"Most importantly, we must be prepared to go to war today," he added. "No rest for the weary. We will press on."