Arkansas Air Guard unit earns 'Satisfactory' rating

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Airlift Wing earned a passing score from Air Education and Training Command inspectors April 6-13. 

The wing was graded Satisfactory, indicating the unit meets mission requirements and that "procedures and activities are carried out in an effective and competent manner." 

"I'm proud of our Guardsmen," said Col. Jim Summers, 189th Airlift Wing commander. "They hosted more than 70 inspectors, and they held their own as they were grilled over roughly 10,000 checklist items." 

The colonel passed along his thanks to the troops in the wing's aircraft hangar Sunday afternoon, after an executive outbrief. The colonel stood side by side with Cabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, the wing's honorary commander, as he delivered the news to about 150 wing members. The mayor happened to be standing near the entrance to the fabrication shop, the same shop he worked in years ago when he was a member of the 189 AW. 

Overall ratings for the wing's four groups are: 189th Operations Group, Excellent; 189th Medical Group, Satisfactory; 189th Mission Support Group, Satisfactory; and 189th Maintenance Group, Satisfactory. 

The 189th Operations Group also received an Outstanding on its 19th Air Force Aircrew Standardization and Evaluation visit. 

Additionally, the wing was rated Satisfactory in contingency operations and Satisfactory in its ability to survive and operate. The positive attitude and sense of urgency during the exercise and throughout the inspection made a lasting impression on the AETC Inspectors. 

The wing was rated Compliant with three by-law requirements: Homosexual Conduct Policy, Trafficking in Persons and Intelligence Oversight. 

The colonel thanked unit members gathered in the hangar for all their hard work. He reminded them that the ORI team had made a lot of good comments about the 189th. He pointed out that the 189th flies some of the oldest C-130s in the Air Force's fleet, flies them more hours than most C-130 Guard units and trains more aircrew students annually than is called for in its yearly programmed flying training. 

The wing's maintainers were recognized for their hard work and innovation, maintaining a C-130 flying hour cost half of that of the active duty. Mission capable rates over a three year period averaged 75 percent, well above the 69 percent Air Force standard. Sortie support was phenomenal; in Fiscal Year 2007 the group generated 1,872 sorties with only five maintenance non-deliveries. 

The operations group was recognized for their demonstrated ability to produce the finest C-130 aircrew and instructors. 

The mission support group was recognized for enhancing mission capability, while ensuring facility, equipment, and personnel program support. 

The medical group was recognized for displaying a solid sense of teamwork and pride while providing quality support to meet the needs of the wing, despite dealing with shortages of approved manpower. 

The 189 AW was recognized for having great people. However, some compliance discrepancies caused some of the programs to fall short of an excellent rating, the colonel said. 

Colonel Summers told Guardsmen to take pride their accomplishments. Correcting the discrepancies the IG has identified will only make a great organization better, he said.
Inspectors highlighted 24 Guardsmen with by-name recognition in the report for excellence in their respective duty sections. They are: 

189th Airlift Wing
2nd Lt. Kenneth O. Simon
Senior Master Sgt. Garry Nolan
Master Sgt. Bobby Green

189th Operations Group
Master Sgt. Brent B. Carper

189th Operations Support Flight
Tech. Sgt. Christopher D. Lipscomb

154th Training Squadron
Maj. John J. Hunt
Master Sgt. Jeffrey T. Vaughan

189th Maintenance Group
Tech. Sgt. Connie Laughlin

189th Maintenance Operations Flight
Tech. Sgt. Michael Boles

189th Maintenance Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Ronald W. Jackson
Master Sgt. Steven E. Baxter
Tech. Sgt. James Holmes
Staff Sgt. Brian Moler

189th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Staff Sgt. Shalin Gieson

189th Mission Support Flight
Master Sgt. Donmonick O'Gwinn
Tech. Sgt. Misty McClean

189th Communications Flight
Master Sgt. Teresa Delph
Tech. Sgt. Benjamin L. Howell

189th Security Forces Squadron
Master Sgt. Matthew R. Pfleger
Tech. Sgt. Brandon Stewart
Ms. Dora J. Williams

189th Civil Engineering Squadron
Master Sgt. Ben Young

189th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Master Sgt. Redo C. Reed
Master Sgt. Charles D. Snelson