LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
With repeated cheers among a backdrop of horns, sirens, drums and any kind of item that made noise, the 37th Training Wing and 59th Medical Wing received overall excellent ratings in the Unit Compliance Inspection.
The 59th MDW received its news in an outbrief Tuesday afternoon with a packed audience at the Wilford Hall Medical Center auditorium, and the 37th TRW got its Wednesday morning before a standing-room only crowd of more than 1,000 at the Bob Hope Performing Arts Theater.
The combined UCI, which required 172 inspectors combing the base for 10 days, is the largest inspection in Air Education and Training Command and the biggest team ever taken on the road.
The purpose of the UCI, which happens every three years, is to evaluate and measure how effectively, efficiently and safely units accomplish their mission.
"During the executive outbrief, my eyes were watering because I was so proud of you," Brig. Gen. Len Patrick, 37th TRW commander, told the boisterous crowd at the Hope Theater. "This is your grade. (The IG team) recognized what I knew all along; you are excellent."
Maj. Gen. Tom Travis, 59th MDW commander, expressed the same sentiments in addressing his pumped up Airmen at their outbrief.
"This is a great day for the 59th Medical Wing," General Travis said. " This is a place of great spirit, a place of real pride, and I'm extremely proud of what you do for your country."
Col. Monty Brock, AETC inspector general, lavished praise on both wings.
"This was a huge Team Lackland effort," he said. "For me and my team, this has been a re-bluing experience, and I'm walking away from Lackland a little taller and feeling a little prouder about the direction the Air Force is going."
Two 37th TRW groups stood out in the inspection by achieving the IG's overall highest rating of outstanding: Inter-American Air Forces Academy and Defense Language Institute.
Other organizations cited by the IG with excellent ratings were the 37th TRW commander's items, 37th Training Group, 737th Training Group, 37th Mission Support Group, 59th MDW commander's items, 59th MDW Medical Programs, and 59th MDW response to the Major Accident Response Exercise.
The inspection team recognized the following individuals for superior performances with UCI coins:
Candy Lewandowski, 37th Contracting Squadron;
Airman 1st Class Ryan Odle, 37th Logistics and Readiness Squadron;
Staff Sgt. Gregory Harris, 343rd Training Squadron;
Master Sgt. Justin Apticar, 737th TRG;
Capt. Craig Nordskog, 322nd Training Support Squadron;
Ron Little, 59th Medical Readiness and Logistics Squadron;
Maj. Rashon Gilbert-Steele, 59th Medical Readiness and Logistics Squadron;
Senior Airman Jeff Wallace, 59th Medical Readiness and Logistics Squadron;
Tech. Sgt. John Ospina, 59th Dental Training Squadron;
Master Sgt. Laura Herring, 59th Medical Wing staff;
Airman 1st Class Ashley Dandridge, 59th Emergency Medicine Squadron; and
Airman 1st Class Trisha Olson, 59th Training Squadron.
Professional teams acknowledged include:
37th LRS Checkpoint Inspection Team,
341st Military Working Dog Training Team,
319th TRS Discharge Team,
37th MDG Field Response Team,
37th TRW Sexual Assault Prevention and Outreach Team,
59th MDW In-place Patient Decontam-ination Team,
59th MDW Manpower Team,
59th MDW Medical Control Center Team,
59th MDW Patient Administration Team, and
59th MDW Safety Team.