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Team McChord begins 'year of the test'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eric Burks
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  With the holiday season over, Team McChord members are now rested and facing the challenges of a new year.

The first major inspection of 2009 kicked off Jan. 7 as members of the Air Mobility Command Inspector General team and Defense Threat Reduction Agency arrived to conduct the operational phase of McChord's Nuclear Surety Inspection.

The NSI tests every aspect of the wing's Nuclear Surety Program and examines the units that perform the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force mission.

Next up is a local mobility exercise Feb. 6 - 13, designed to prepare the wing for the Operational Readiness Inspection Oct. 25 - Nov. 1. Two further exercises outside of the local area are scheduled in May and September to give McChord Airmen additional practice prior to the ORI.

Additionally, McChord hosts the Air Mobility Rodeo July 19 - 25. Rodeo, sponsored by Air Mobility Command, is the Mobility Air Force's readiness competition, according to AMC. The competition focuses on improving the professional combat skills of U.S. and multinational combat airlift forces.

Base housing privatization is also ongoing, and joint basing details are being ironed out this year. Initial Operational Capability of Joint Base Lewis-McChord is Jan. 2010.