What do Halloween, inspection have in common? Published Oct. 31, 2008 By Maj. David Stone 90th Communications Squadron commander F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- -- Soon, various goblins and ghouls will overrun Warren. They will be seeking us out wherever they can find us. When they do find us, and they always find us, they will present an opportunity for tricking or treating. When they make that presentation, if we deliver with a treat of their liking, they will move on. However, if we fail to satisfy, they may linger and provide us with a trick we most certainly will not enjoy. Now, if I were just writing about Halloween, life would be grand. But as you've surely guessed, this article has much more to do with our impending inspections than it does with tonight's fun. First and foremost, have your lights shining so those goblins know you want them to come by. Shop briefs; well-kept continuity binders; clean, neat work areas; and current, complete display boards are inspection-equivalent cool Halloween decorations. Sure, they invite more attention, but it's positive attention. It sets the mood. They'll love your house even if they don't like your candy. Nonetheless, make sure you have good candy. Remember to imagine yourself in the costume of that ghoul standing in your work area. They are looking for the good stuff ... not some half-baked home-made something or other. They want the pre-packaged goodies, straight out of the Air Force instructions and technical orders. When you give those goblins and ghouls their treats, remember to give them just the right amount ... you and your stash have to make it through the whole night. So don't let them just grab handfuls at random. They should ask for what they want, and you should give them precisely what they asked for (and, as we discussed above, it better be the good stuff.) Don't give them extra, and don't give them reason to believe there's something they'd like better further inside the house. Finally, the inspection offers one technique to us that Halloween usually does not, especially for those monsters who really want to come off of the porch and into the house; we can talk to our neighbors ... those across the base in the same or similar program and those in our chain of command. We can tell them what the children liked and didn't like, and that helps our whole neighborhood earn an outstanding reputation. Lest the double-speak about Halloween and inspections confuse this next point, let me make it plainly. Underlying all of the above is a great deal of discipline. Disciplined preparation allows us to put our best foot forward to the inspection team. It reveals our pride and confidence in what we do and how we do it. Yet, none of that preparation can come completely from the direction of leadership; it takes the discipline of the Mighty Ninety's Airmen to do what needs to be done simply because it needs to be done. Disciplined execution of the mission each day in accordance with the appropriate guidance simplifies our preparation. Disciplined interaction with the inspectors ensures that we don't distract them with something other than our disciplined mission execution. One final thought: do you remember how cool it was when the person answering the door during Halloween was also in costume? When the goblins and ghouls knock on your door, be a superhero.