September 2012 (pdf) - 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air ...

SEPTEMBER 2012
AIRSCOOP
PAGE 4
Barnstormers Prepare for Inspection
By Capt. Jennifer M. Piggott, Public Affairs
Convert from the A-10 Warthog
to the F-15 Eagle … check! Mission
ready in the F-15 … check! Send 200
Airmen on a 90-day deployment … check!
So what does this all mean … it’s time for
an inspection!
For the next year, the men and
women of the 104th Fighter Wing (FW)
will be busy training and preparing for a
combined Phase I/Phase II Operational
Readiness Inspection (ORI), scheduled for
October 16 to 23, 2013.
In October 2013, nearly 1,000
Barnstormers will be under the watchful
eye of more than 60 inspectors from the
Air Combat Command (ACC) Inspector
General (IG) team, evaluating the unit’s
ability to position, employ, and sustain
the forces and the unit’s ability to survive
and operate in a “forward” operating location.
The ORI will consist of two
parts, a Phase I, which focuses on preparing
to deploy aircraft, people and assets/
cargo to a forward location and a Phase
II, which focuses on the wing's ability to
operate in that forward location with
heavy emphasis placed on self-aid and
buddy care (SABC), response to chemical,
biological, radiological, and nuclear
(CBRNE) attacks and contamination, as
well as mission support.
“This ORI is an identical inspection
to what our active duty counterparts
are evaluated. Our goal is to exceed the
standards,” said Col. Jim Keefe, the returning
104th Fighter Wing Vice Commander.
“We are being inspected on our
mission and how well we execute it.”
This will be a huge undertaking
for the unit. It hasn’t had this kind of
inspection since 1998, and currently 84
percent of the unit’s members have not
been through this type of exercise and
inspection with the 104 FW. The last
ORI for the 104 FW tested the A-10 aircraft
and Air-to-Ground mission. This
ORI will test the unit’s F-15 Air Dominance
mission.
“We have a steep learning
curve,” said Col. Tony Gwosch, Vice Commander,
104th Fighter Wing. “Our biggest
challenge is the fact that the majority
of the wing hasn’t experienced an ORI,
so we have to get in that mode and train
and prepare for the inspection. This is
why we are starting our preparation early
with three Operational Readiness Exercises
(ORE) beforehand to ensure everyone
is thoroughly ready and trained.”
It isn’t just the ACC IG team
that will be watching over the Barnstormers,
this inspection has wing, state,
and Air Force leadership interest.
“This is our moment to show our
capability in the Eagle,” said Col. Keefe.
“We have a history of excellence, dating
back to our time in the A-10, but we can’t
rest on our laurels, we have to train hard
so we are ready,” said Col. Keefe.
The rigorous training schedule
starts in October 2012 with a command
and control exercise, which is essential to
mission accomplishment and base survivability.
It is followed by a Phase II ORE
in November 2012, a Phase I ORE in January
2013 and combined Phase 1/Phase
II OREs in April, June and September
2013.
“It will be a fast paced tempo
and we only have 44 training days available
for our traditional guardsmen to ensure
they are fully ready for the ORI,”
said Col. Keefe. “Now is the time to start
preparing your families and employers
for the additional commitment required
to make this a successful inspection. You
can expect that each UTA will include
some type of ORI preparation training …
whether it be a full scale ORE or parttask
training,” said Col. Keefe.
When asked how Airmen could
best prepare for the inspection, a simple
two word answer was given … “smart
pack!”
“We are creating a “smart pack”
guide for our Airmen to utilize during the
exercises and the ORI, which highlights
the key elements everyone needs to
know,” said Master Sgt. Chris McCrary,
Emergency Manager, 104 FW.
This “smart pack” includes information
on Mission Oriented Protective
Posture (MOPP) levels, which increase
or decrease personal protection
against nuclear, biological, chemical and
conventional threats. It also highlights
alarm conditions (see box), Unexploded
Ordnance (UXO) hazard charts and procedures,
and Self Aid Buddy Care
(SABC), to name a few.
“Practice makes perfect and our
previous success as a unit is because we
trained as a cohesive team,” said Col.
Keefe. “The preparation that goes into
our upcoming exercises and inspection
directly translates to being a cohesive
deployed unit. Now is the time to come
together to achieve mission success,”
concluded Col. Keefe.
ALARM CONDITIONS
Alarm Green- attack is probable,
usual wartime condition, MOPP 0,
resume operations, as directed.
Alarm Yellow- attack is probable
in < 30 minutes, MOPP 2, protect
and cover, as directed.
Alarm Red (siren)- attack by air
or missile is imminent or in progress,
MOPP 4, seek immediate
shelter, as directed.
Alarm Red (bugle)- attack by
ground force is imminent or in
progress, MOPP 4, take immediate
cover, as directed.
Alarm Black - attack is over,
CBRNE contamination or UXO
hazards are suspected or present,
MOPP 4, perform SABC, remain in
shelter/cover, as directed.
Exercise & Inspection Schedule:
Oct. 2012-
Command & Control Exercise (2-day)
Nov. 2012-
Phase II ORE (3-day)
Jan. 2013-
Phase I ORE (2-day)
Apr. 2013-
Phase I/II ORE (4-day)
June 2013-
Phase I/II ORE (3-day)
Sept. 2013-
Phase I/II ORE (4-day)
Oct. 2013– UTA and ORI (6– day)