How to succeed during the ORI

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The Operational Readiness Inspection, which takes place Oct. 13 to 20, 2012, should be a positive experience. It's a chance to conduct a detailed scrub of mission capabilities, identify and fix discrepancies, improve morale and teamwork by rallying behind a common objective and demonstrate each unit's ability to support the war fighter. Ultimately, it's a chance to show McChord Field's superiority in a wartime environment.

Each person is vital to our success in the ORI. Here are some ways to ensure excellence and dazzle the Inspector General:

Attitude: Display a positive attitude. Enthusiasm is contagious and a good attitude lifts the spirits of everyone around you. Every problem has a solution.

Display a sense of urgency: No one doubts that when a real contingency occurs, everyone will put forth his or her best effort. Airmen must be able to capture that single-minded sense of purpose and apply it to the ORI.

Immerse yourself in the scenario: Maintain realism. Know the exercise contingency and how each scenario fits in. Consider all aspects and implications of the scenario. Make use of intelligence resources. Simulate as little as possible. When working with the IG as a simulated external agency, treat them like the real thing.

Be knowledgeable: Know your job inside and out. Educate yourself on the ORI Ground Rules, the AFPAM 10-100 and the approved simulations.

Communicate: Excelling during the exercise is not possible without effective communication. Communicate with senior leadership, with teammates and with the IG. If you need information, ask for it.

Exhibit teamwork: Exceptional teamwork can make the difference between an "Excellent" grade and an "Outstanding". In today's smaller Air Force, teamwork is not a request it's a requirement.

Remain flexible: Be prepared and have contingency plans in place. The IG designs exercises to test your abilities when things go wrong. In the ORI, scenarios will make resources unavailable, simulating damage to both key personnel and systems - all to measure your response. Be ready for these roadblocks and be prepared to overcome them.

Safety: Approach all duties with a safety-oriented mindset. Apply Operation Risk Management techniques to safely accomplish the mission!

Pride: Show pride in yourself, your unit and your mission. Have a sharp appearance, military bearing and make a positive first impression on the inspectors.

The final ORI score is both objective and subjective. The objective measurements come from our ability to deploy the force, then survive and operate in a wartime environment. However, the subjective component can be even more powerful. Everyone who has augmented the IG during an ORI reported that attitude and a willingness to treat the scenario as real was a determining factor in the final grades. The inspectors expect there to be problems. It's how you handle those problems that make the difference. Those who are truly prepared for a contingency situation and who demonstrate the characteristics and skills described above, will be successful in the ORI.