What are/were your best tips--secrets for success-- to pass an inspection?

2014-11-15T19:31:08-05:00

Military people face a lot of inspections--personal, equipment, weapons, quarters, you name it. Military people are ingenious with shortcuts and solutions...please share some of yours, even if you think they are obsolete they might help a modern soldier, or just bring a smile to an older one!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 15 at 2014 7:31 PM

2014-11-15T19:31:11-05:00

In the barracks, we used to use STRAIGHT pine sol in the heads-it would literally gag you going in.

You can never prevent the inspector who is a complete "expletive" who dons white goes, dives under the racks and comes out with a "trace" of dust............

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:32 PM

2014-11-15T19:32:08-05:00

First tip is to have a buddy check you over - you, your equipment, whatever's being inspected.

Second tip - now essentially obsolete - is to put a high (spit) shine on those boots and low quarters. I would tell you my secrets, learned in the 82d (for guard mount) and at the Old Guard (for everything) ... no, I guess I won't tell.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:35 PM

2014-11-15T19:35:45-05:00

The wall that I have always done well on inspections, and continually do well on inspections, is to keep track of all my equipment, maintain and PMCS all of my equipment on a regular basis. I feel that organization is key to doing well on inspections!

Response by CPL Rick Stasny made Nov 15 at 2014 7:48 PM

2014-11-15T19:48:33-05:00

I never had a problem getting my gear in order, but a tip I found that works is if you did not have time to properly prepare. Use pleasant smelling cleaners and a plug in type air freshener. When things smell clean they must be. I never seen an inspector dig too deep when the room didn't smell like a bowling alley.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:48 PM

2014-11-15T19:48:23-05:00

For a finishing touch, in the old wooden barracks, we used to spray paint the corners of the stairs whatever color was needed just prior to inspection. Otherwise spent hours cleaning with Qtips.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-11-15T19:51:44-05:00

For stainless steel, we used alcohol for an instant shine! Unfortunately, most of the stuff was brass...so we used steel wool and then brasso.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:51 PM

2014-11-15T19:51:04-05:00

To ensure crisp lines in our uniforms, we rubbed a wet bar of soap on the insides and then ironed.
The WACs taught us to sew nickles into the hems of fatigues, particularly pocket flaps, to keep them hanging down. Works wonders.
We used shaving cream on the patent leather items--the lanolin leaves a nice shine!

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 7:55 PM

2014-11-15T19:55:37-05:00

We had one DS who gave new meaning to the term 'hit the dirt". Remember, it was mostly drafted Army in TIGERLAND basic combat training bound for Vietnam. The DS's job was to get people to pass marksmanship. He would hit the dirt in front of the target and usually kicked up enough dirt to knock the pop up down--somehow he got people through. Have no idea how they passed the nightfire.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 8:19 PM

2014-11-15T20:19:37-05:00

Great question, SGM Private RallyPoint Member! I'm looking forward to reading others' responses.

For ASUs (service uniform):

- After the first time your uniform passes inspection, use Saran Wrap and a Sharpie to create a template for setting up your uniform the next time. While your uniform is still set up, just lay a 2-foot-wide piece of clear plastic wrap over the chest area of the uniform and use permanent marker to outline your name plate, unit awards, ribbons, badges, etc. The next time you need to set up your service uniform, use the template to ensure every element is lined up to inspection standard.

- Keep belt buckles and other shiny objects wrapped in plastic wrap until literally the hour of inspection to prevent scratches and smudges. Keep Q-tips and cotton balls handy to shine them up (bring extra cotton balls for your buddies).

- At Fort Campbell, I kept my jump boots' high gloss by slipping them into knee-high stockings before placing them in their storage box. You can get the knee-high stockings at Walgreens for less than a dollar.

Oh, and for room/latrine inspections, after the area has been cleaned, use Pine Sol in a spray bottle to hit up the doorways and latrine walls. If it smells clean, it IS clean!

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 15 at 2014 8:38 PM

2014-11-15T20:38:43-05:00

When I was a young Marine, we had to keep a wall locker if you lived in the Barracks. That wall locker was fully prepped for inspection at any time. What we found worked best was to essentially have a full compliment of uniforms that was for Inspections Only. The only way that you could really beat the inspections was to be perfect, and you could not do that with the uniforms that you wore for duty.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 9:09 PM

2014-11-15T21:09:03-05:00

Here's a secret I never figured out until just before I departed from Korea in 1979. I volunteered to be the barracks sergeant there as an E5(P) because none of the E6s wanted it--they were too busy having a good time in the 'ville. It was a pretty sad situation...but the barracks Sergeant got his own room...with a bathroom in a new barracks...so I jumped at it. I'm no saint, but it was a crazy place where your "houseman" laid out your TA50, you paid people to clean your weapon and carry your tray at the mess hall...totally screwy from my point of view...but hey, I was in Seoul not 1st ID...and could go to Itaewana on the weekends....
Well, when we had inspections the dogs came through looking for pot. We knew it was there as we could often smell it in between the morning kimchi and the open sewers outside. Some rooms had 2, 4, or six people in bunks. KATUSA soldiers had 6 or 8 in one room. The dogs would enter a room, whine, and act nervous, but nothing would be found anywhere.
Until one day. Because animals like humans, rarely look up. The dog handler barely noticed some clear fishing line in a corner of the white walls, hanging from the ceiling. And he pulled it. Overhead, inside the nice new suspended ceiling, attached to the fishing line, was a small packet of marijuana. When the CO and dogs showed up in one room, a fellow in the next room would pull his end of the fishing line, shifting the pot to his room's ceiling. The same thing happened in reverse when the CO and dog left and entered the other room. Went on for nearly a year. Pretty Slick!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Nov 15 at 2014 11:37 PM

2014-11-15T23:37:40-05:00

Volunteer for CQ the night before, and spend the night squaring your stuff away...then they probably won't look at it anyway, since you're in your room asleep.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 11:45 PM

2014-11-15T23:45:03-05:00

As an enlisted sailor, I maintained two pairs of footwear. One for inspections and one for daily use. When not wearing the inspection set, I would slide a pair of black socks over the ends to keep the toes scuff free while stored. I also kept one uniform of each type set aside for inspection, this included belts, buckles, etc., and any day I wore them ended in laundry, ironing, and starching before the uniform went back in the closet inside a garment bag. For the white uniform hats, I found a cylinder, aka popcorn tin, that had the same size as my head and, when I wasn't wearing the uniform cover, it would rest on the top of the tin to help maintain a good shape. Another important thing that people don't know, especially for keeping nice white uniforms, is to CLEAN YOUR IRON. I cannot count the number of times a shipmate would be ironing a uniform and end up with weird marks because they didn't clean their iron after using starch.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Nov 16 at 2014 12:11 AM

2014-11-16T00:11:33-05:00

Keep up to date on regulations and policies. Ask for courtesy inspections and someone can point out what needs to be corrected. We do this here and allow BDE and SQDN reps to pre-check our unit before the final one. Gives a chance to make the necessary corrections.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 2:42 AM

2014-11-16T02:42:23-05:00

Uh-hmmm. Go to sick call. Plan a dental surgery on it. Cmon! You all were thinking it!!! Lol.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 3:03 AM

2014-11-16T03:03:18-05:00

Try to be the semi-permanant guidon bearer. I was one for 2 1/2 years when I was active duty, and 2 years as reserve. I was never inspected open-ranks. Sure the command team would give me a quick glance while forming up, but after opening the company and while doing the inspection, I just stood there with the guidon up front patiently waiting for the inspection to finish.

If you are part of an inspectable section (supply, CBRN room, arms room, for example), make sure from day one that you know Army regs, Post regs, and SOPs set down by your higher units. Take the time to inspect yourself monthly to make sure that you are meeting maintenance schedules, inventory controls, proper storage, and other things that would or should be already present in an SOP checklist.

Look at previous inspection reports and make sure deviations have been corrected.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Dec 12 at 2016 4:08 PM

2016-12-12T16:08:43-05:00

Bn Inspection - Bn XO was inspecting plus in my CO (HHC) the incoming CSm, the outgoing CSM, the incoming 1SG, and the outgoing 1SG, the XO is very methodical and single minded (1300 man BN) the NCOs looking around, I had a painted rolling tray on the wall: cartoon naked woman with silly caption, one NCO notices, starts to laugh, the others see it and laugh too. When the inspection party leaves all are laughing and 'Good looking room Sp/5 Jensen" none of the NCOs had actually seen the room

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 12 at 2016 4:26 PM

2016-12-12T16:26:17-05:00

Learn to wear head gear properly, the guy in the photo looks like an actor.
Sigh, just why is that worn indoors?