Inspector General of Air Force meets with Yokota Airmen

by Senior Airman Cody H. Ramirez
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

12/7/2012 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan. – Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, the Inspector General of the Air Force, visited Yokota Air Base, Japan, Dec. 5 and 6 to continue his orientation tour of the Pacific Air Force.

The Inspector General of the Air Force spent his time at Yokota meeting with Airmen and touring a variety of units on base. Mueller also received a briefing on the 374th Airlift Wing and its role in the Pacific, which highlighted the personnel and units that contribute to Yokota’s important East Asia airlift mission – maintaining a U.S. presence and capability throughout the Pacific theater of operations.

Responsible for two field agencies: the Air Force Inspection Agency and the Air Force Office of Special investigations; Mueller met the local OSI and Yokota Inspector General.
Robert Borden, 374th AW Inspector General, met with Mueller to discuss a new vision to pass the most efficient and cost effective route of measuring Air Force wings and their ability to perform their mission.

“The General’s vision is to pass this responsibility back to Wing commanders,” said Borden. “This will give the Wing commander more autonomy to assess our own unique mission here at Yokota and work the same for all Wing commanders across the Air Force.

“I have to say, it was more a humbling experience than anything else,” Borden said in regards to meetings his new boss. “It was a great learning experience for me to be able to sit and talk with him (Mueller) about his expectations for Air Force Inspections, IG complaints and certain other challenges the Air Force faces as we move forward.”

The conversations were not strictly business between Mueller and Borden, along with every conversation the general had with Yokota Airmen.

“Lt. Gen. Mueller was very personable and showed general interest in our conservation, no matter the topic,” Borden added.

Borden said Mueller’s concern and willingness to meet, talk to and shake hands with Airmen, from the lowest ranking to the base commander, reinforces the credibility of the IG Program. He also added that during Mueller’s visit, Mueller remarked that his professional encounters with Airmen at Yokota was a direct reflection of the outstanding leadership here.