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First ORE Complete

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Scott Mathews
  • 315 AW/PA
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SC --  315th Airlift Wing members and their active duty counterparts participated in an Operational Readiness Exercise at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Miss., July 26 - Aug 2.
In the scenario, Joint Base Charleston members deployed to Nagoya, Japan in support of Operation Crisis Look, a humanitarian mission, as the 121st Air Expeditionary Wing.

"An ORE is an exercise to practice our capability to position the force (deploy), employ our forces, sustain the forces, survive anything the enemy can throw at us while operating in a contingency environment and reposition the force (redeploy)," said Col. Steven Chapman, 315th AW commander.

Participants were evaluated by Exercise Evaluation Teams who tested them on operating in a deployed, chemical environment. Mission Oriented Protective Measures were implemented and members had to "MOPP up", putting on chemical suits, gas masks and battle gear.  Players in the exercise were also evaluated in their ability to work in a chemical attack and still get their jobs done.

"Our job is to survive so we can operate and launch aircraft to supply the war fighter with the materials and personnel required to defeat our enemy," said Colonel Chapman.

They were also given scenarios where self aid and buddy care and post-attack reconnaissance were needed. Participants needed to search for bombs, chemical contamination, suspicious activity and help those who had been injured.  More than 600 members of JB Charleston participated in the event. The airmen were flown to the training center, processed, assigned sleeping quarters, fed and also had to be sent back home.

"We just accomplished our first of two OREs and from my perspective we were successful in meeting our objectives. We practiced our processes and procedures while discovering areas needing more attention, discovering material and personnel weaknesses and interacting and building a seamless team," said Colonel Chapman.

All of this training leads up to an Operational Readiness Inspection in November where the players are evaluated by Inspector General from the Air Mobility Command.

"Thanks to everyone for taking time out of your busy lives, while enduring the heat and humidity in chemical and battle gear, to ensure we are on our way to a successful ORI!," added Colonel Chapman.