Kadena prepares for MFE, implements new process

by Airman 1st Class Hailey Staker
18th Wing Public Affairs

1/13/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan  – The 18th Wing is preparing for a Mission Focused Exercise, formerly known as a Local Operational Readiness Exercise, set for Jan. 27-30 here.

An MFE is an inspection that incorporates unit self-assessment along with the traditional survive and operate exercises that the wing is used to.

“An MFE is a scenario-based exercise used to assess readiness, evaluate the validity of unit self-assessment programs and a commander’s tool to limit the risks of undetected non-compliance through inspection in any of the new four major graded areas,” said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Calisi, 18th Wing Inspector General inspections superintendent. “These areas are managing resources, leading people, improving the unit and executing the mission.”

Not only is this exercise different from previous exercises, this MFE is part of the revised inspection program the Air Force implemented in Oct. 2013.

“This is a complete paradigm shift in the Air Force Inspection System,” Calisi said. “The Pacific Air Forces Inspection General team will no longer be coming in large numbers to conduct Operational Readiness Inspections. Instead, the 18th Wing Inspection Team will take advantage of normal operations to conduct inspections, or conduct an MFE to inspect specific objectives, and periodically a PACAF/IG team will come in much smaller numbers to inspect our inspection team in action.”

Calisi added one of the key differences in this new program is that a LORE was a large scale wing exercise, and that the MFEs can be much smaller in size and scope, giving them the ability to focus on a particular area.

The goal of the MFE is to enforce unit self-assessment year-round, keeping units accountable for non-compliance and reporting how each unit prepares to solve the problems through self-analysis and implementation.

“Units will be tasked to evaluate their own compliance and report on themselves throughout the year,” Calisi said. “WIT members will focus more on inspecting the integrity of unit self-assessments, adequacy of problem solving efforts and corrective actions being implemented. Airmen will find themselves spending more time focusing on their jobs and continuously improving their units and processes.”

Not only is there a new process Kadena Airmen must learn during future exercises, the WIT is preparing themselves for what is to come.

“The WIT is spending time training and learning the new inspection process, and to determine the best way to implement the new Commanders Inspection Program,” Calisi said. “The wing as a whole will have to learn their roles and expectations for the CCIP to be successful. Commanders must foster a culture for identifying non-compliance and unit members making self-assessment must be encouraged to be candid.”

The implementation of this program will take approximately one year to complete, and the first MFE will be much like a typical LORE because it will be a wing-wide effort.

“Future MFEs will continue to change form and be tailored to what the wing commander feels is needed to continuously improve the wing’s readiness,” Calisi said. “One of the main goals is to spend less time preparing for exercises.”

Calisi encourages Airmen to bring a positive attitude to this MFE and to be flexible as this system will be challenging to adjust to.

For more information regarding the upcoming MFE, mandatory briefings will be held at the Keystone Theater Jan. 14 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.