Beverly’s WIT

Evaluators from the 8th Fighter Wing’s inspector general’s office at Kunsan AB, South Korea, took a hard look at how airmen conduct operations while responding to unplanned threats, such as simulated unexploded ordnance, during Exercise Beverly Midnight 15-3. The “wing inspection team,” a new commander inspection program started about six months ago at Kunsan, is intended to improve the base’s combat mission readiness to better generate sorties and accept follow-on forces. Lt. Col. Christopher Heber, the 8th FW inspector general, said the new program empowers the wing commander to tailor the exercise to a specific mission. For example, the 8th Civil Engineer squadron’s fire department had to respond to a fire while being inspected by a WIT member. The scenarios have improved specific skills with 8th FW airmen, such as post attack reconnaissance sweeps, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training, according to a May 3 release. The WIT program “gears airmen up for real world situations by learning and growing from their mistakes in a controlled environment,” said MSgt. Shawn Chenault, the 8th CES assistant fire chief and WIT member. “It’s okay to make mistakes … we just have to learn from them and get better.” The six-day exercise kicked off on April 28.