D-M Airmen to participate in Phase I ORE May 9-14

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Duane Helton
  • 355th Fighter Wing Inspections
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Airmen from the 355th Fighter Wing, 55th Electronic Combat Group, and 563rd Rescue Group are gearing up for a Phase I Operational Readiness Exercise May 9 through 14.

The Phase I ORE tests the ability of the fighter wing and tenant units to prepare and mobilize from a peacetime readiness into a wartime posture on short notice, and the areas it will evaluate are command and control, deployment processing, employment readiness, information operations, and force protection.

"The ORE will allow us to evaluate our processes and procedures and enable the wing to recognize areas that require improvement so that we can, in turn, focus on those areas in preparation for the Phase I (Operational Readiness Inspection)," said Lt. Col. Nolan James, Chief of Wing Inspections, Plans and Programs.

The ORE will test deployment preparation to a designated theater using a simulated, compressed timeline, but the 355th Wing Inspections office encourages participants to apply a real-world mindset to the exercise.

"DM Airmen can best prepare for the exercise by treating it like a real-world deployment," said Maj. Bryan Dresser, Chief of Wing Inspections. "OREs are a great reminder for every Airman in the wing that they must be prepared to deploy at all times."

Major Dresser advises Airmen to ensure they have a mobility bag with the mandatory items, keep their training requirements up to date, and maintain current medical records, not only for the exercise, but also for the unexpected.

"Contingencies outside of the normal (Air Expeditionary Force) cycle can and do happen, often with very little warning, and this is what a Phase I ORE is designed to simulate."

The last Operational Readiness Exercise was in January 2009 when the fighter wing was evaluated performing a Phase I exercise. Phase I OREs will increase in frequency over the next 19 months in preparation for the Headquarters Air Combat Command Inspector General ORI scheduled for January 2012.