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Z-Gram #67; dated 22 December 1970

Naval Command Inspection Program

R 221714Z DEC 70
FM CNO (Z-67)

TO NAVOP

UNCLAS //N00000//
NAVAL COMMAND INSPECTION PROGRAM

A. OPNAVINST 5040.7E OF 31 JUL 1969

1. INSPECTIONS OF OUR COMBAT UNITS NEED TO BE REORIENTED TO MORE PRACTICALLY SERVE THE NEEDS OF COMMAND AND YET BECOME SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BURDENSOME TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE INSPECTION PROCESS. IN THE PAST, UNITS HAVE USED INORDINATE AMOUNTS OF MANPOWER AND HAVE OFTEN UTILIZED VALUABLE TRAINING TIME IN PREPARING FOR MANY INSPECTIONS THAT OFTEN PRODUCE RELATIVELY MEANINGLESS OR IRRELEVANT RESULTS. THE INSPECTION ITSELF IS NOT THE REAL TEST, BUT RATHER A TOOL TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC FACTORS OF COMMAND PERFORMANCE. THE EVIDENCE OF LEADERSHIP, TEAM SPIRIT, “CAN DO” ATTITUDE AND A CONTINUING DEMONSTRATION OF SUSTAINED MISSION READINESS IS THE REAL TEST.

2. I AM ACCORDINGLY MODIFYING INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR SUBORDINATE FLEET STAFFS, SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS TO GIVE A LARGER ROLE IN THIS FIELD TO IMMEDIATE UNIT COMMANDERS (IUC) I.E., THOSE IMMEDIATELY SENIOR IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO THE UNIT BEING INSPECTED, MAKING CHANGES WHICH WILL YIELD A MORE RESPONSIVE AND PRODUCTIVE INSPECTION PROGRAM WHILE REDUCING THE WORKLOAD IMPACT ON OUR PEOPLE.

3. AMONG THE CHANGES INCLUDED IN THE MODIFIED INSPECTION PROGRAM WILL BE:

A. THE CHIEF INSPECTOR WILL BE THE IUC

B. PERSONNEL FROM SISTER UNITS (SHIPS/AIRCRAFT SQUADRONS) WILL NOT BE USED AS ASSISTANT INSPECTORS.

C. THE IUC WILL ATTEMPT TO COMBINE INSPECTIONS AND TO CONDUCT THEM ON AN UNSCHEDULED BASIS IN CONNECTION WITH HIS ORDINARY EMBARKATIONS/VISITS TO THE INSPECTED UNIT. INSPECTION FREQUENCY WILL BE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF MANAGEMENT NEEDS AND NOT IN DIRECT RELATION TO ANNUAL COMPETITION.

D. INSPECTION RESULTS WILL BE EXPRESSED IN TERMS OF SAT/UNSAT.

E. MANDATORY USE OF CHECK-OFF LISTS IS ELIMINATED.

4. EXCLUDED FROM THIS NEW POLICY ARE THOSE INSPECTIONS LISTED IN PARA 8 OF REF (A) AND THOSE NUCLEAR POWER INSPECTIONS GOVERNED BY OPNAVINST 3540.3 B OF 31 MAR 70.

5. FURTHER DETAILS OF THIS PROGRAM HAVE BEEN PROMULGATED TO OFFICERS IN COMMAND AND WILL BE FORMALIZED IN AN OPNAV INSTRUCTION. E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U.S. NAVY, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.
BT

__________

ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS:
OPNAVINST: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

[END]
Published: Wed Jan 05 16:45:32 EST 2022