What is an ORI?

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Frances Kriss
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  With the expeditionary nature of today's Air Force, it is important for Airmen to be prepared to take the fight anywhere.

In order to better prepare the 62nd Airlift Wing, there will be a series of articles published leading up to our operational readiness inspection in October 2012. But what is an ORI? In short, the ORI is the final exam on how well a wing can conduct its wartime mission.

At the end of the inspection, each wing that participates will receive one of five grades ranging from "outstanding" to "unsatisfactory."

The 62nd AW's ORI will be a joint effort with the 446th Airlift Wing and 627th Air Base Group.

Members of the Air Mobility Command Inspector General team will evaluate how well we deploy to and operate out of a combat readiness training center such as Volk Field, Wis., as well as several other forward operating bases.

This operation will simulate real world conditions at a deployed location and will grade the more than 600 participants on our ability to deploy the force, then survive and operate in a wartime environment.

The inspection also places a greater emphasis on preparedness for current-day battle conditions, such as mortar, rocket and chemical attacks. Many more people are responsible for the success of this inspection than just those deploying to a CRTC.

During the initial response phase of the exercise, the time frame immediately prior to deployment, the IG team will grade us on every aspect of base operation that supports the wartime mission.

These inspectors will observe and grade everything from the generation of aircraft and mission planning to the situational awareness of an Airman walking down the street.

No detail is too small for the IG team. Safety, base and personal appearance, as well as proper customs and courtesies are the responsibility of every member of Team McChord.

It is never too early to begin preparing for the ORI. In fact, our wings have already executed several exercises in preparation and we have two more fly away exercises planned for May 4-11 and Sept. 7-14.

This ORI is a very serious event and will represent how well Team McChord can accomplish its mission. An operational readiness inspection is not a game or just another exercise; it needs to be treated in the same manner as going to war.