Mission accomplished: Team Dover passes Operational Readiness Inspection

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover Airmen earned Satisfactory scores during the Dec. 7-14 Operational Readiness Inspection, proving they are ready to meet wartime taskings and deliver airlift anywhere, anytime.

The Air Force Reserve Command's 512th Airlift Wing and Air Mobility Command's 436th AW deployed more than 600 personnel to the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., to participate in the inspection. They were also joined by about 60 reservists from the 433rd AW, Lackland AFB, Texas.

"Team Dover did a great job all through the inspection," said Col. Steven W. LeGrand, AMC Inspector General Team, during a briefing today at the base theater. "Team Dover came together and had a positive attitude and a sense of urgency that made a difference in this inspection."

Each unit undergoes an ORI, every three to five years. Active and Reserve Airmen are challenged with various wartime scenarios to assess their preparedness for war and their ability to fulfill their mission. The IG evaluated the wings in three major areas: employing the force, sustaining the force and the ability to survive and operate. There was a five-tier rating system of Outstanding, Excellent, Satisfactory, Marginal and Unsatisfactory.

"This is such a great team, and that came through in all areas," said LeGrand, who added the total force integration between the active and Reserve wings here is amazing. "Team Dover is more than ready to conduct their wartime mission."

To prepare for the inspection, the wings have been training for more than a year. The dry-run for the ORI was in September and is called an Operational Readiness Exercise. It was the first ORE and ORI for Tech. Sgt. Latoya Greene of the 512th Communications Flight.

"The ORE really prepared me for the ORI, and the challenge of wearing MOPP (Mission-Oriented Protective Posture) four gear while accomplishing the mission," said Greene, who added that was the most difficult part for her.

MOPP is a system of protection against nuclear, biological and chemical contamination. Personnel are evaluated on how well they can perform their wartime missions while wearing MOPP gear for hours at a time.

Even though Senior Master Sgt. Dee Priar, 512th Financial Management Office, has deployed to 10 ORIs and numerous OREs, she said these inspections never get any less challenging. This time the finance team was down one person, which meant the three-person team had to perform the extra taskings. In six hours, they had 46 scenarios to endure; and, that was just half a shift.

Overall, Priar said she thought her team did great job. They earned a satisfactory.

"Based on the fact, that we only had the Unit Training Assemblies and 14-days of annual tour to prepare for this, our team and the wing did very well," she said.

Greene and the Communications team also earned a satisfactory.

"I'm proud of my team, because we worked very well together to earn our grade," she said. She added earning a satisfactory was a breath of fresh air, because it means the communications section will not have to do this for another 36 to 48 months.

Despite the challenges associated with these inspections, Col. Mark D. Camerer, 436th AW commander, lauded the participants for their tenacity and a job well done.

"No one gave up, and it made a big difference in our overall grades," said Camerer.

"I am very proud of this team," said Col. Randal L. Bright, who was an ORI participant serving as the vice commander for the wing of deployed Airmen. "It took more than just the deploying Airmen to earn the grade. It also took the support from the personnel at home station. I thank each of you for all of your hard work and the role you played in the wing's success."

Team Dover celebrated with a burger burn at the Landings Club, celebrating their passing grade just before the holidays. Traditional reservists who were unable to attend the AMC IG briefing, will receive an ORI out brief during the January UTA.