Wing gets early start on readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Jay Ponder
  • 908th Airlift Wing
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  Although the 908th's next Operational Readiness Inspection won't take place until 2015, there's a great deal to accomplish, and the wing is beginning the training that will help it pass the ORI with flying colors.

The training also helps Airmen prepare for real-world events.

"These deployment exercises ensure 908th members are prepared in case a real-world deployment comes up," said Master Sgt. John Mitchell, NCOIC, Commanders Support Staff, "the training keeps us sharp and ready to go on a moments notice."

Every unit had a two-hour time block scheduled for the exercise Sunday of the November UTA.

Lt. Col. Doran Gillie led the exercise and was seen almost everywhere monitoring and advising participants.

"We have an annual requirement to do certain exercises," said Gillie, "This exercise satisfied the requirement for an annual ORE and a periodic deployment exercise which is supposed to be done every 24 months."

Units used the exercise to conduct recall exercises and detailed review of the mobility folders. Airmen practiced donning chemical gear, going through deployment lines and received briefs on what to expect while preparing for a deployment.

Senior Master Sgt. Martha Roy of the 908th FSS monitored deployment lines as well as portions of the chemical suit training said she was pleased with the outcome of the exercise.

"We are always looking at ways to make the process more efficient," she said.

Besides the primary objective of conducting the exercise, Gillie also noted a secondary objective. "The activities we decided to focus on, help us identify all of the equipment we have by inventorying it," he said, "so we are ready for our ORI preparation which will begin in earnest as soon as our deployment comes back."

Two years may seem to be a long time, but training needs to start now as Gillie explained how the squadrons in the wing will begin preparations for the ORI. "We want to identify who will be the probable participants in the ORI," said Gillie, "so we can give the appropriate training to folks particularly those who will be facility managers and members of PAR teams." Gillie said training would probably begin after the New Year so unit participants would be ready for the Reserve Assistant visit September, 2013.

"It will be special team training for PAR teams and individual training for ATSO and Self-Aid and Buddy Care," said Gillie.

The exercises being conducted and those taking place in the future will keep the wing deployment ready.

"These types of exercises ensure deployers maintain a readiness posture at all times to meet the ongoing and contingency operation requirements," said Roy, "The more we practice, the better we get."