Ops Group receives high marks on SAV

Published Jan. 3, 2014
By Senior Master Sgt. Burke Baker
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 386th Expeditionary Operations Group received high marks during a recent program review staff assistance visit by U.S. Air Forces Central evaluators.

The AFCENT team's report, outlining the results of the standards evaluation, was released this week.

Col. Douglas DeLaMater, 386th EOG Commander, was thrilled with the results.

"Anytime a higher headquarters agency uses the words "phenomenal," "impressive," and "outstanding" to describe one of your organization's programs during a formal out-briefing, you have to be to be pleased," he said. "Considering the recent release of Air Force Instruction 90-201, the Air Force Inspection System, the results of this particular visit are especially noteworthy. We know that we have a healthy program to build upon as we begin to implement AFIS and the Air Force Chief of Staff's vision for the future."

The team appraised the 386th EOG, the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, and the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron to ensure compliance with Air Forces Central and higher headquarters standardization guidance. In addition to assessing the 386th EOG, the assessment group conducted 41 other semi-annual standardization and evaluation program reviews throughout the U.S. Central Command theater from Oct. 14 to Dec. 17, 2013.

The evaluators focused on a number of programs, procedures, support, operational instructions, certification, and training functions. The team also identified potential benchmark programs and interviewed unit stan/eval personnel, unit aviation resource managers, and squadron leadership to identify potential factors that could hinder mission readiness.

Three members of the 386th EOG were identified by the assessment team as "outstanding performers". Lt. Col. Michael Comstock, Capt. Brian Bush, and Tech. Sgt. Russell Stevens were all recognized in the report for their exceptional contribution to their specific unit programs.

Stevens, who manages the Operations Support Squadron's Aviation Resource program, was honored be recognized at the debriefing by the SAV team's lead, Lt. Col. Kenneth Zepp.

"I do my job every day to the best of my ability and take pride in being Aviation Resource Manager so to have my office ranked as one of three top ARM offices is very rewarding for my team's hard work," said Stevens. "The fact that Lt. Col Zepp took the extra time to recognize me as having one of the top three ARM offices in the entire area of responsibility, that was a big surprise," said Stevens.

Col. DeLaMater stressed that this was not just an expeditionary operations group win, but was a wing for the entire 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.

"The fact is that these programs, and the Airmen that execute them, could not run without the equally unfailing, day-in, day-out, dedicated support of the Airmen of the maintenance, medical, and mission support groups," he said. "There is no success here without that teamwork, period."