SANDSTON, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers who made significant contributions to a successful state-level logistics inspections received Army Commendation Medals Oct. 4, 2017, in Sandston, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, presented the awards along with the Col. Michael H. Swanson, Virginia Army National Guard Director of Logistics, to recognize the role the Soldiers played in the Virginia National Guard receiving a 90 percent compliance rating during the Command Logistics Review Team inspection March 8-12, 2017.
The purpose of the CLRT is to improve the overall sustainability, mobilization readiness and effectiveness of logistics operations through hands-on assistance, compliance-driven analysis and observations within the Army National Guard in accordance with applicable Army regulations, Swanson explained.
A CLRT inspection combines several inspections into one major evaluation, which allows the National Guard Bureau to: evaluate each state’s logistical posture; improve logistics readiness and sustainability; collect and respond to logistics concerns that are beyond the ability of the National Guard Bureau; assist in all areas of logistics management; foster command involvement in disciplining logistics operations; provide logistics status to commanders and staff at all levels; and identify best practices that support or issues that obstruct the execution of logistics across the Army.
During this three-day inspection, 21 units, shops, facilities or sections across Virginia were inspected. Evaluated areas encompassed nearly every aspect of logistics from the state, to the brigade, to the battalion, down to company-level supply activities were assessed. Often times, the CLRT inspection surfaces compliance problems not identified by local command reviews and provides avenues for leaders to correct local standard operating procedures to ensure any identified problems needing local corrective actions are resolved.
Swanson Virginia Army National Guard Director of Logistics, organized assistance teams to prepare the various organizations and identify areas where resources could best be applied. A year prior to the CLRT, the Logistics Directorate, or G-4, and the United States Property and Fiscal Office conducted several In-Process Reviews and workshops in preparation for the inspection.
“Senior Leaders and taxpayers can have confidence that Virginia Army National Guard logisticians are professional and capable of providing the support that units need,” said Swanson. “We’re obviously pretty effective and good stewards of the taxpayers’ money.”
The National Guard Bureau will compare Virginia’s results to other states’ evaluations to determine systemic logistical problems that affect individual and unit readiness. The ratings are organized with noteworthy being an average score of 96-100 percent, and are considered to exceed all regulatory or policy guidance. A satisfactory rating is a score of 85-95 percent compliant. A score of 70-84 percent requires corrective actions to bring the program into compliance. Any evaluation below 70 percent compliant is unsatisfactory and reflects significant issues.
Overall, Virginia was 90% percent compliant and, due to receiving a satisfactory rating, Virginia will not have to be re-inspected until May of 2020.