In brief:
- The Exchange IG team conducted nearly 40 site inspections this year.
- Inspections took place at Exchanges and distribution centers.
- Nine main stores and four DCs in Pacific Region were included.
For the IG Office, the end of summer meant the end of annual inspection site visits. This year, the team traveled to 35 Exchanges and four distribution centers across CONUS and Pacific Region. We gathered input from associates and managers and reviewed numerous documents to provide credible information to the Exchange’s senior leaders.
Here are some highlights.
Firearm inspections: The IG evaluated 26 Exchanges through in-person and remote inspections. The results demonstrate continued improvement in compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, as well as Exchange policies and procedures.
The results reflect positive progress in firearm operational compliance, thanks to the continued commitment of management and staff.
Region inspections: Two teams traveled to the Pacific Region to inspect six objectives at nine main stores and four distribution centers. The teams assessed associate morale; the relationship between the Exchange and installation leadership; safety compliance; physical security compliance; receiving controls compliance; and waste management controls.
A primary focus was ensuring that the right controls are in place and being used to protect Exchange assets. This included both physical security elements and the process for receiving and processing items.
The teams also reviewed processes for handling items that can’t be sold or need to be marked down, such as expired food and damaged returns, to ensure the Exchange isn’t losing money unnecessarily. In addition to protecting assets and the bottom line, the teams focused on safety to ensure that associates have training and access to safety equipment. Since the inspections, facility leaders have tightened control and provided training to ensure continued compliance.
Personnel accountability inspection: Every year, the IG collects information from the regions and headquarters about real-world or exercise events that involve personnel accountability. This information is used to assess whether our processes enable leaders to quickly account for associates in the event of natural or manmade disasters.
This year, 32 Exchange locations have participated in a real-world event or an exercise, each reaching 100% accountability within an acceptable timeframe. It’s vital associates have a clear understanding of the reporting procedures in case of any emergency or disaster.
After completing our site visits, our team is reviewing all the information collected to identify trends and recurring patterns for use in planning next year’s inspections.
For more information about completed inspections or to request a copy of a report, email leefe@aafes.com or husbandz@aafes.com.
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