ACA 'Mission Ready' across the board

Published Nov. 28, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Caycee Watson
169th FW/PA

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina -- It is not an unknown fact that McEntire's Aerospace Control Alert teams are on point when it comes to mission success. That was recently confirmed when, yet again, the SCANG impressed a visiting inspection team. This time around, it was a no-notice North American Aerospace Defense Fighter Alert Force Evaluation.

This was the first graded evaluation from NORAD, and the wing's ACA personnel, including Command Post and Intel, Security Forces, Maintenance and Operations, all contributed greatly to receive the grade of "Mission Ready," the highest grade given for an AFE.

During the outbrief, the inspection team's lead briefer said, "You actually seemed glad we came. That attitude goes a long way."

Lt. Col. Keith Miller, 169th ACA commander, said, "The Command Post evaluator made it a point to emphasize the quality of personnel and the operation, who presented strengths in many aspects of their duties."

He also mentioned the superior performance of the Security Forces personnel and their processes. Six areas were noted as strengths by the inspection team. The Security Forces team was recognized in several areas as Mission Ready, from the security they provide to aircraft taxiing to their technology at the entry control point.

Miller boasted that maintenance did "their usual outstanding job," as primary aircraft received zero discrepancies and had 100 percent weapons reliability during the inspection.

"This evaluation confirmed what we already knew. That we are performing the Alert mission at a very high level," stated Miller.