An MQ-9 Reaper sits on the flight line at Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 3, 2014.The MQ-9 Reaper is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Staff Sgt. John Bainter)

Commentaries

MCITS helps ace inspections

  • Published
  • By Maj. Raymond Porrata
  • 919th SOW Performance Planner
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  It's almost one year past the dreaded inspection you wouldn't dare to mention, but don't take that breath of relaxation just yet. Though the Operational Readiness Inspection is over and done with, we should be gearing up for the next wave of inspections coming our way. 

That's right - debuting in March 2009 are the Unit Compliance Inspection, Health Services Inspection and the Maintenance Standardization Evaluation Program Inspection - all guest starring you, and even better, the cameras will be rolling well before then. 

Our friends at 10th Air Force will shine the spotlight on Duke Field with their Staff Assistance Visit, which is expected to take place no later than October 2008. 

Scared yet? Now's the time to prepare for that "outstanding" rating we all hope to achieve, and the one program you should get yourself acquainted with, if you haven't already, is the Management Control Inspection Tracking System. 

The infamous MCITS - some love it, some hate it, and some of you don't even know what I'm talking about. Whatever you may think of it, it boils down to one thing: your key to success. 

The program is used to track all deficiencies identified through self-inspections and inspection reports conducted by unit self-inspection monitors. Think of it as a "one-stop-shop" related to all matters of self-inspection. Everything from past reports, checklists and Air Force Instruction references are there for your tracking needs. 

What most people use MCITS for is to track deficiencies until they're fixed and for record keeping just in case a similar problem was to come up in the future. What a lot of people don't know is that the program is a helpful tool to pass your inspections with flying colors. 

There are a variety of hyper links and help tools to direct you to the one thing you're looking for. Here are some suggestions to keep you on track: 

- Pull up past reports from your shop. This may help you hone in on what inspectors may be evaluating you on. 

- Access your unit's self-inspection checklist and run through it. They should be conducted every six months, typically in January and July. 

- Identify areas that have discrepancies or have had them in the past and make sure they are in compliance. 

- Read through AFI 90-201, Air Force Reserve Command Supplement 1, Attachment 6, Common Core Compliance Areas and find the areas most related to your line of work. 

- Don't be scared to ask for help. I can be reached via e-mail at raymond.porrata@eglin.af.mil or by phone at 883-6314. 

Everyone has access to the program. Want a sneak peek? Then buckle your safety belt, go to the wing's Web site at https://wwwmil.919sow.afrc.af.mil and click on the MCITS link. The program can also be accessed on the wing's public drive in the Self Inspection folder. OK, it's not that exciting, but it's worth your time and worth keeping the wing operationally ready. After all, you'll be the one receiving the grade in the end. 

(Editor's note: Major Porrata is the wing's self inspection monitor)