New Grissom IG sets sights on communication Published Sept. 16, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- While not part of the 434th Communications Squadron, one of Grissom's newest Airmen has definitely made communication her business. Col. Melissa Weydert, who recently took over as the new 434th Air Refueling Wing Inspector General, said her goal is to promote open communication and try and prevent problems before they even start. "Almost all of the problems I've dealt with between people are misunderstandings or miscommunication," she explained. "The goal is to get to the source of the problem and defuse it so we don't detract from the mission." As a wing-level IG, Weydert serves as an extension to the 434th ARW commander by acting as his eyes and ears and being alert to issues that affect the organization. Weydert said reserve organizations pose unique situations because of how long many reservists stay with one unit, but they also offer solutions through clear communication and relationship bonds. "Reserve units are like a family, and we need to work hand-in-hand," she explained. "As reservists, our people stay together a long time and little issues can fester over time." And, Weydert said she knows the best remedy to prevent festering issues. "My goal is to keep those lines of communication open and ensure all required guidance is followed," she explained. "The reserve rules can be very confusing for the average reservist, but when folks understand the process, they may not like the answer, but they will know they were treated correctly." It's both the closeness and openness found in the Air Force Reserve that is the reason why Weydert said she is happy to be at Grissom. "I'm thrilled getting back to the traditional reservist world," exclaimed Weydert as she talked about returning as a traditional reservist after leaving that role to become an individual mobilization augmentee. "I missed the camaraderie in the unit world." Traditional Reservists are the most common of Air Force Reserve Airmen. They're assigned to a single unit and work one weekend a month on unit training assemblies as well as 15 days per year in annual tour status. To continue her career, Weydert left the "TR" world to become an IMA reservist when a family move forced her to relocate to the other side of the United States. IMAs are assigned directly to a regular Air Force unit and often don't have the opportunity to work with other reservists. "It has been fun working with active duty, but it's just not the same as being in a reserve unit," she explained. "This is where I started in the reserve and where I wanted to finish." Now that Weydert is back where she wants to be, she said she's ready to pull up her sleeves and get to work. Her primary responsibilities include administering a complaint resolution process and proactively training Airmen about IG processes and fraud, waste, and abuse issues. "I'm here to help," she concluded. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Twitter and Facebook.
