Deployment exercise prepares wing for Operational Readiness Inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Almost 180 Airmen from 10 units of the 512th Airlift Wing participated in a deployment exercise Nov. 3-4 here. 

The exercise, referred to as the DEPEX, evaluated wing Airmen's ability to process through a mobility line and marshal cargo as preparation for the Operational Readiness Inspection in July. 

"The DEPEX reviewed not only the completeness of the individual's personnel folders and personal bags, but also examined units that move cargo, and how efficiently they got that cargo on the aircraft," said Lt. Col. James Johann, 512th AW performance manager. "Cargo needs to be processed at the same time as [Airmen] with the goal that the two meet up [on the aircraft] at relatively the same time, all this is involved in the grading criteria for initial response." 

ORIs are conducted to evaluate and measure the ability of a unit to perform in wartime, according to Air Force Instruction 90-201, Inspector General Activities. 

512th and 436th AW Airmen will take on this test, which evaluates four areas: initial response, employment, mission support, and the ability to survive and operate in a hostile environment, said Colonel Johann. 

"Just because you haven't been tasked to participate in the ORI as a deployer doesn't mean you don't have a role in ensuring this wing's success," said Col. Randal L. Bright, 512th AW commander. "These tasked Airmen earn the grade for all of us so every Airman in this wing should be supporting this exercise, whether it's assisting with training or ensuring Airmen have the proper equipment they need to do the mission." 

Initial response, assessed during the November DEPEX, evaluates the wing's ability to process through a mobility line, reviews Airmen's mobility folders, and examines the wing's ability to move cargo. Employment is getting to the deployed location and setting up work areas; and, mission support is Airmen successfully doing the jobs they were trained to do but in a combat environment. In addition to doing the job, Airmen must know how to survive and operate in these harsh conditions. The ATSO portion of the ORI evaluates how well Airmen respond to force protection conditions, alarm conditions, Mission Oriented Protective Posture, or MOPP, levels and attacks. Airmen must also show proficiency in self aid and buddy care and measures concerning post-attack hazards. 

The November DEPEX, the first of several exercises the wing will undergo in the next six months, served as a starting point to evaluate what the wing needs to improve, said Colonel Johann. 

The wing performance planner said most mistakes occurred not in the area of cargo or personal bags, but personnel folders. Airmen were missing documents, had expired certifications, needed training, and some individuals were talking on cell phones while going through the mobility line, he added. 

"We haven't done DEPEX and ATSO training in a while and there are a lot of areas that we can improve," said Colonel Johann. "Preparation is the key." 

To hone 512th AW member's deployment and wartime skills the wing has exercises planned for the following months. ATSO training, referred to as the Haunted House and Battle Ax exercise, is scheduled during the January UTA. ORI players will under go another DEPEX, which is slated for the February UTA. And, the Operational Readiness Exercise is scheduled in April at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wis. The ORE serves as the mock tests evaluating all four areas and prepares 512th and 436th AW Airmen for the final exam--the ORI. 

Colonel Johann also recommends that Airmen should work with their unit deployment manager to ensure all requirements are met and training has been accomplished according to the installation deployment plan. Also, the Airman's Manual contains information that is especially useful in the area of initial response and ATSO, he said. 

"While we did perform well at the DEPEX, we have much more practice ahead of us," said Colonel Johann. "The ORE and ORI are important to all of us and shouldn't be taken lightly. I challenge everyone to keep giving 100 percent. Dover has a strong team of Airmen and we have the chance to prove that during the months to come."