Base ramping up preparations for 2008 ORI

  • Published
  • By Chris McGee
  • 88 ABW Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Wright-Patterson Air Force Base organizations are ramping up for a series of exercises over the next year in preparation for an anticipated Operational Readiness Inspection in fall 2008.

During the coming months, base organizations will participate in frequent exercises designed to provide base personnel the opportunity to practice and improve the processes that will be evaluated during the ORI.

The ORI and associated preparatory activities, between now and then, are key to testing the base's real-world readiness, say officials managing exercise efforts and planning.

"An ORI is an evaluation that validates our war-time mission," Maj. Jason Jackson, chief of installation readiness, inspections and exercises, said. "An ORI and the preparation leading up to it promote a constant state of readiness and keep us focused."

Exercises and activities throughout the next few months will include a Phase I, which encompasses wartime deployment activities such as a Unit Deployment Manager preparation and deployment processing line, and a Phase II, which involves simulating teams employed in a contingency location. Events also will focus on using the Air Force Incident Management System, the command structure used to quickly and decisively manage emergencies when they occur.

The base achieved an overall rating of excellent during the December 2004 ORI.

According to Carmen Riches, chief of exercise planning, organizations need to take steps now to posture for exercises and the ORI. Such measures are part of a daily effort vital to helping base organizations meet ORI goals.

"This is the time to start working at a group level to work self-inspection checklists and anything that could be an ORI-related process," Riches said.

According to Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, ASC commander, an ORI offers the center a pivotal opportunity to demonstrate acquisition surge capabilities.

"As a member of the Global War on Terror warfighting team, the acquisition community has streamlined and improved our processes to meet the urgent needs of our warfighting partners as they counter a continuously adaptive enemy," Gen. Hudson said. "We have applied our technical and management skills to bring them improved capabilities in a timely manner through concentrated teamwork.

"Part of the fall 2008 ORI will focus on our ability to meet rapid capability improvements for the warfighter using the current ASC acquisition surge processes that we exercise on a daily basis."

For Col. Colleen Ryan, 88th ABW commander, full base participation and teamwork are critical elements in achieving success in the ORI and demonstrating the base's deployment readiness.

"The ORI gives us the opportunity to demonstrate to the Air Force Materiel Command Inspector General's office that we deploy personnel fully trained and prepared for the demands of 21st Century warfighting missions," Col. Ryan said. "We are ready."

Another essential ORI component is testing an organization's readiness in supporting families.

"Equally as important to us is the way we prepare and provide for the spouses of our deployed members," Col. Ryan said. "We are proud of our programs that take care of those left at home as well."

Preparing for an ORI and conducting exercises require attention to detail and time to prepare and practice, Maj. Jackson said.

"This is the start of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base drum beat, getting ready for the 2008 ORI," Maj. Jackson said. "There are fine-grain details and evaluation requirements to address, in an environment where competing priorities require considerable attention during the year. We will effectively use this year to prepare.

"The ORI needs to stay on the scope of the base populace, including contractors, civilians, and service members combined, to ensure we meet our goals for the year ahead. We have an expeditionary spirit, and this is our opportunity to show it."