Marine Aviation plants its "boots on the ground".

History was made on 24 August 2002, when a team of more than 30 Navy and Marine Corps flag officers toured MCAS Miramar, Calif., as part of the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Program (NAVRIIP) "Boots on the Ground" (BOG) operation (see Jul-Aug 02, p. 16-17). Miramar was the first Marine station to participate in the program, which gives junior Marines a chance to identify barriers to readiness during a five-week barrier identification and problem-solving process.

The Marines also had the opportunity talk with senior leadership about the barriers as they toured workstations. The BOG team visited Marine Aircraft Group 11, making stops at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 11 and Marine Fighter-Attack Training Squadron 101. Senior leadership shadowed Marines throughout their workspaces asking questions and giving suggestions on how to start the process of improving nondeployed readiness. The visit was helpful to junior enlisted service members and the BOG team, said Chief Warrant Officer William A. Ross, assistant avionics officer of MALS-1l. "[The visit] provides necessary visibility for those who support us. They can see what type of things we struggle with day-to-day and can help us with our support needs," Ross said. Barriers brought to the team's attention included broken electronics-testing equipment and an unserviceable F/A- 18 Hornet fuel tank that was delivered new from a supply warehouse, punctured and unusable.

The opportunity for the NAVRIIP team to speak individually to Marines is necessary to the Naval Aviation mission, said Navy Lt. Arvis Owens, aide de camp, Naval Inventory Control Point. "We want to talk to the wrench turners. They're the ones who will give the most honest answers. Once we know what's wrong, we can find a way to fix it," he explained.

For many Marines the experience was something they will never forget. "It's not every day you look over your shoulder and see an admiral watching you work," said Cpl. William A. Branstetter, a MALS-11 engine mechanic. "It's good that they are here wanting to make our job a little easier."

Many problems discussed during the visit dealt with aging or unserviceable equipment, but the team also took interest in the training barriers in the Fleet Marine Force. NAVRIIP addresses problems by finding and correcting their root causes and implementing solutions across the community. In addition to breaking down equipment barriers, the communication during BOG helps Marines and Sailors understand their part in Naval Aviation.

The barriers identified that can be taken care of at the station level are now being fixed. Those requiring more research and analysis will be assigned to cross-functional teams of subject-matter experts to solve.

For more information about NAVRIIP and the "Boots on the Ground" team, go to www.cnap.navy.mil/navriip. For more news about NAVAIR, visit their Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/navair.