MINNESOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
INSPECTOR GENERAL
LTC Jim Beckmann
State Inspector
General
IG Mission
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Assess and report matters affecting
mission performance, discipline,
efficiency, economy, morale, training,
and readiness of the Minnesota
National Guard
Promote standards & core values of
the Minnesota National Guard
Identify systemic deficiencies
Assist Minnesota National Guard
members and their families in solving
service related problems and issues
as the eyes, ears, and conscience of
the TAG/CG.
(AR 20-1)
The Role of the IG
Extend the Commander
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Member of the Commander’s Personal Staff
Perform common staff functions (We don’t
concur!)
Special Relationship
 Fair and impartial fact-finder
 High degree of independence
 IG works for the Commander
 Rated by the Commander
 The TIG has policy oversight, directing
authority, and IG records-retention authority
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The Role of the IG
Extend the Commander
(continued)
The authority of the IG comes from the Commander!
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IGs have no directive authority outside the IG System
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IGs do not establish command policy except for AR 1201 and AR 20-1
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IGs have access to all needed materials and records
except for classified material (if the IG lacks the proper
clearance) or as specified in paragraph 8-4 g (material
related to the attorney-client relationship,
communications with clergy, husband-wife
communications, psychotherapist-patient
communications, etc.).
Inspector General
“A typical IG is a man past middle age, spare,
wrinkled, cold, passive, non-committal, with eyes
of a codfish, polite in contact, but at the same
time unresponsive, calm, and damnably
composed as a concrete post or a plaster of paris
cast, a human petrification with a heart of
feldspar and without charm or friendly germ,
minus bowels, passion, or a sense of humor.
Happily, they never reproduce and all of them
finally go to hell.”
-- Gen George S. Patton, Jr.
Confidence In Leaders
Adults with a ‘great deal of confidence’ in people running these institutions
Harris Poll 2009
The Military
The White House
The Supreme Court
Education
Medicine
Television news
Congress
Organized religion
The Press
Organized labor
Major Companies
Law firms
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
IG Core Functions
Assistance
 Investigations
 Inspections
 Teach and Train
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Assistance
The Assistance Function
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Render assistance
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Correct injustices (indirectly)
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Eliminate conditions detrimental to the efficiency or
reputation of the Army
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Record and analyze data for corrective action
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Report on the status of the Army
Triangle of Confidentiality
SJA
IG
•Protect privacy
•Minimize risk of reprisal
•Maintain confidence in the IG system
Confidentiality is Not Guaranteed
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Nature of the issue
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Official use within the Army
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If unavoidable, try to contact complainant before disclosure
AR 20-1, para 1-12
.
Third Party IGARs
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Response to third party
depends on:
Right to know
 Individual concerned (soldier
or DAC) consents to release
of information
**We really want to hear from
the troop and not parents or
friends
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JFMN-IG
FY 2009 Total Cases - 81
Complaints by Component
FY 2009 Total Cases - 81
JFMN-IG
Focus Areas/IG Leaders Guide
Counseling – all Soldiers
 NCOERs
 OERs
 LOD
 Profiles/Medical Boards
 Flags
 Separations (ADC/weight control/AWOL)
 Sexual Assault (alcohol factor)
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IG Advice
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Commander Authority and FTS support
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Relationships
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Fairness and Perceptions
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Communication
Three Things You Remember During your Career
 The first time you don’t make a selection list
 The first time you get shot at
 The first time you get investigated
Investigations
Investigations
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Based on standard into an
“allegation”
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Fair and impartial fact-finding
process
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Preponderance of Evidence
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Either “S” or “N”
IG Appropriate?
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Punitive vs. Non-Punitive
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“Criminal” vs. “Administrative”
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IGs can inquire/investigate violations
of laws, regulations and
policies/directives.
IG Fact Finding Characteristics
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Fair and Impartial
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IG is not an adversary or a champion
IGs do not recommend adverse
action
Thorough – emphasis on facts
Concerned with Confidentiality
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Limited distribution of information
Overt but discreet
Protect all individuals from
reprisal/ridicule.
Commander’s Options:
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Do Nothing
Rule 303, MCM
AR 15-6 Investigation
Article 32
CID/MPI
Chain of Command
Civil Authority
Inspector General
IG vs. Commander’s Options
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Meets Commander’s
Guidance
Help determine a course
of action
Lack of factual information
IG
Identity of
Subject/Suspect
Sensitivity of allegations
Potential “Noise Level”
Confidentiality
Other
Inspections
Definition of an
Inspection
“An evaluation that measures performance
against a standard and should identify the cause of
any deviation. All inspections start with compliance
against a standard. Commanders tailor inspections
to their needs.”
A standard is the way things should be.
AR 1-201
The Army
has a Standard
for Everything!
Army Inspection Policy
Army Regulation 1-201
 Identifies responsibilities
 Requires Commanders to designate an OIP Coordinator
 Defines inspection terms and concepts
 Outlines the Army’s inspection principles
 Establishes the Organizational Inspection Program
(OIP) -- the most important aspect of AR 1-201
 Urges the integration of inspections
Principles of Army Inspections
Five Principles (AR 1-201, paragraph 2-2)
1. Purposeful
2. Coordinated
3. Focused on Feedback
4. Instructive
5. Followed up
The Organizational
Inspection Program
(OIP)
AR 1-201
MNGR 1-201
TAG’s Intent: Inspection Program will be
focused on teaching and training. CIPs
will not be an “I got you” event.
Purpose of the OIP
To coordinate inspections and audits
into a single, cohesive program focused on
command objectives.
The OIP provides the commander with
an organized management tool to identify,
prevent, or eliminate problem areas.
AR 1-201, paragraph 3-2, a & b
The Organizational Inspection Program (OIP)
The Integration of Inspections
OIP
COMMAND
INSPECTION
STAFF
INSPECTION
Audits
External Inspections
Intelligence Oversight
IG
INSPECTION
Staff Assistance Visits
Management Control
AR 1-201, paragraphs 3-2 to 3-5
The Inspector General
“The one who goes in after the battle and
bayonets the wounded.”
- Anonymous
Role of the IG in the OIP
• Develop the IG Inspection Program as part of the OIP
• Advise commanders and staffs on inspection policy
• Advise the commander on the OIP’s effectiveness
• Conduct IG Inspections
AR 20-1, paragraph 6-2
AR 1-201, paragraph 1-4
MNARNG OIP
Inspection Policies
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Responsibility of Commander
All units subject to IG inspections and other
inspections/visits by higher headquarters
Physical security inspection will be conducted
annually
Consolidation of inspection…avoid repetition
Units exempt from inspections 30days before
and after AT
Teaching and training
Follow up and corrective action is critical to
success of the OIP
Inspection Categories
1. Command Inspection
2. Staff Inspection
3. Inspector General Inspection
AR 1-201, paragraphs 3-2 to 3-5
Command Inspections
• A scheduled, formal event
• Led by the Commander
 Initial Command Inspection (ICI) (company
or detachment)
 Subsequent Command Inspection (SCI)
Initial Command Inspection
• Required for Company Commanders (or like commands:
detachments, troops, batteries)
• Within 120 days per
MNGR 1-201
• Extension up to
180 days for
Minnesota National Guard
(MNARNG)
The inspecting commander must be present
and participating in the inspection!
AR 1-201, paragraph 3-3c
Initial Command Inspection
(continued)
• Identifies unit strengths and
weaknesses
• Cannot be used to evaluate
the Company Commander
• Helps commanders establish
goals, standards, and priorities
• Not used to compare units
• Only the inspected commander and that commander’s rater
will receive the specific results (IG can request results without
unit attribution)
AR 1-201, paragraph 3-3c
Subsequent Command Inspection
• Measures progress and reinforces goals and objectives
established in the Initial Command Inspection.
• The commander determines the scope, format, timing, and
frequency of the Subsequent Command Inspection.
• The inspecting commander may use the results of the
Subsequent Command Inspection to evaluate the company
commander.
The inspecting commander must be present
and participating in the inspection!
AR 1-201, paragraph 3-3d
Staff Inspection
• Led by a staff member of a functional area.
• Focuses on a single functional area or a few related areas.
• Conducted by the lowest-level staff member technically
qualified in the functional area.
• Should complement Command and IG Inspections.
• Compliance oriented.
Staff Assistance Visits
• Directly support Staff Inspection and Command Inspection
Programs
• Assist, teach, and train subordinate staff sections on how to
meet the required standards of a particular functional area
• Can prepare staff sections for upcoming inspections or train
them on new concepts, technologies, or operating techniques
Inspector General Inspection
Who May Direct an IG Inspection?
Chief of Staff
of the Army
(CSA)
or
Vice Chief of
Staff of the
Army (VCSA)
Secretary of the Army
(SA)
Inspection Directive
Commander
The
Inspector General
(TIG)
AR 20-1, paragraph 1-4 b(4)
Inspector General Inspection
Inspector General inspections should:
 Pursue systemic issues
 Identify sub-standard performance, determine the
magnitude of the deficiency, and seek the reason for the
deficiency (the root cause)
 Teach systems processes and procedures
 Identify responsibility for corrective actions
 Spread innovative ideas
Systemic and Local Problems
What is the difference?
• Systemic problems are usually widespread and present a pattern. You
can often trace these problems back to a regulation, policy, or other
standard that is confusing, overly ambitious, or in conflict with another
standard. The proponent is usually the person to fix this type of
problem.
• Local problems usually affect a small group of people or an individual
and do not present a pattern. You can usually trace these problems back
to a particular person’s decision, demeanor, or statements. The level of
organization that the problem affects is the best place to solve this
problem.
JFMN-IG
IG Inspections
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Fund Management (1st Qtr)
OER/NCOER Management (2d Qtr)
FY
2010
2011
2012
2013
DA IG
None
None
None
None
NGB
IO
None
None
None
State
See
above
TBD
TBD
TBD
Why do units and people fail to comply with standards?
• “That is the way we did it in my old unit.”
• “I have no idea what you are talking about. I have been the S-1
for only two days.”
• “Take a number. We have a Warfighter, BCTC, an OEF
planning conference, and brigade formal in front of you.”
• “I can’t get any good help these days. I am on my butt because
all of my staff officers are young lieutenants!”
• “I don’t understand … I thought I understood ... I did it right
the last time, but …”
What are some other reasons you may have already heard?
Military Whistleblower
Protection Act
Title 10,
United States
Code,
Section 1034
Little-Known Facts
Inspectors General . . .
Always encourage complainants to use the chain of
command first
 Normally offer allegations to subordinate Commanders
for action rather than conduct an IG investigation
 Use discretion when passing information to the CG/TAG
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Confidentiality
Are here to help you
 Do not wear a ‘black hat’
 Do have friends!
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Command Advice
● Always stay on the high ground and do the right
thing
● Be sensitive to “perceptions”
● Get advice from your experts
● Stretch for your troops
● Stretch for your mission
● Never stretch for yourself
IG Contacts
JFHQ, Roseville TACC
651-281-3833/3834/3836
LTC Jim Beckmann
LTC Jeff Johnson (deployed)
LTC Don Pelton (M-day)
Lt Col Vikki Gettchel (M-day)
MAJ Taylor Cox
SFC Cynthia Webb
Questions?