ORI 101: What Airmen need to know about Operational Readiness Inspections

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  What would you do if you saw a bomb sticking out of the ground?

What would you do if you saw a simulated bomb sticking out of the ground with an evaluator grading your every move?

Hopefully, your answer isn't simply to run like "Forrest Gump," and is more along the lines of what's in the Airman's Manual on page 128, which is to recognize, record, retreat and report.

The Airman's Manual is one key tool wing members need to be familiar with in order to succeed during the Operational Readiness Inspection Oct. 13-20, said Maj. Robert Stefanowicz, 512th Airlift Wing exercise planner.

Many wing members have heard about the ORI and are busy preparing; other Airmen may be wondering exactly what it is and how to prepare.

If that's the case this is ORI 101 for those members who are not so ORI savvy.

What it means
ORIs are conducted to evaluate and measure the ability of a unit to perform in wartime, during a contingency or a force sustainment mission, according to Air Force Instruction 90-201, Inspector General Activities. Every wing undergoes an ORI approximately every five years. The 512th AW had their last Initial Response in April 2004.

Approximately, 350 Airmen from the wing will participate in its ORI with the 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Del., 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla., and 615th Contingency Response Wing, Travis AFB, Calif. The 512th and 436th AWs will deploy with these units to a forward location, which hasn't been designated yet.

What's graded
The wings will be evaluated in four areas: initial response, employment, mission support and the ability to survive and operate in a hostile environment.

Initial response consists of processing through a mobility line, so it's essential Airmen have their mobility folders, ancillary training and shots up-to-date, said Major Stefanowicz.

The employment and sustainment portion of the ORI is getting to the location and setting up work areas.

Mission support is simply Airmen doing the job they were trained to do, said Major Stefanowicz.

ATSO is operating in a simulated chemical environment, and inspectors evaluate how Airmen respond to force protection conditions, alarm condition changes, MOPP levels and attacks. Inspectors also evaluate the ability of the base population to identify, mark, report and avoid post-attack hazards as well as how individuals perform self-aid and buddy care.

A five-tiered rating system is used to grade wing performance and consists of outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal, and unsatisfactory. Each wing will be evaluated individually in ATSO and during the initial response (the processing line) some of the other functional areas will be combined, said Major Stefanowicz.

How to prepare
To prepare, the wing has scheduled Operational Readiness Exercises for May 7-13 and Aug. 6-12.

"It's essential for unit members who are participating in the ORI to start preparing now," Major Stefanowicz said. "Including annual tour and UTAs, unit members have 32 days to prepare as of the January UTA."

In addition to contacting previously inspected units to get an idea of what to expect and staying on top of ancillary training, Major Stefanowicz offers the following suggestions.

"Know your Airman's Manual well enough so you don't have to keep referring to it," he said. "Inspectors will ask Airmen questions, such as what is alarm condition yellow. It's legal to refer to it, but it makes it easier if you know it. If you have it tabbed for easy reference you'll be ahead of the curve."

A hard copy of the Airman's Manual can be ordered online through the Air Force Portal, by clicking on the Air Force e-publishing site under "Top Viewed Publications and News." Click on services to the left; and, users will need to set up an account to order the publication. An electronic version of the Airman's Manual can be downloaded at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/pubs/publist.asp?puborg=AF&series=10.
An interactive online version of the Airman's Manual is also located at https://commweb.hill.af.mil/AMT/. This website has tests for each section and can assist unit members in their training and familiarity with the book," Major Stefanowicz said.

Another option is for 512th AW members to go TDY to volunteer for the Inspector General Augmentee program to observe another unit's ORI.

"Essentially, you are getting the test for the ORI," said the major. "To take part in this program, one needs to have the commander submit their nomination to the IG."
For more information, visit https://private.amc.af.mil/ig/html/Augmentee_Observer.cfm.