Kadena rocks operational readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Marasky
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The word "Excellent" flashed across the screen and hundreds of Team Kadena members cheered as they received Kadena's grade for the 2008 Operational Readiness Inspection. 

Maj. Todd Cox, one of the two narrators for the out-brief delivered a message on behalf of Col. Donald Weckhorst and the entire PACAF IG team. 

"We are proud to report to Gen. Chandler that the Shogun team is more than prepared to fly, fight and win," he said. 

The Pacific Air Forces Inspector General team graded four major areas and a number of sub-areas in order to determine that the 18th Wing performed the mission in ways that exceeded the standard. 

Two specific areas of Team Kadena's mission were highlighted with an outstanding rating, the highest that can be achieved. The defensive counter-air mission was rated outstanding after Kadena's F-15 pilots achieved and impressive 300:1 kill ratio during air combat exercises. Information operations was also rated outstanding based on the efforts of the wing to protect critical network infrastructure and to practice good operations security. 

The overall excellent rating comes as validation of the hard work the 18th Wing has done over the past year in preparing for this inspection after having struggled with a few exercises at the end of last year, said Brig. Gen. Brett Williams, 18th Wing commander. 

"I want to thank the commanders and the chiefs," he said. "You did exactly what I asked you to do in getting our people where they needed to be, without burning them out. It's all about leadership." 

General Williams was particularly pleased with the outstanding rating the wing received in the defensive counter-air portion of the inspection. 

"Everything we do here is to make sure that we can get the aircraft into the air," he said. "That outstanding on DCA is the best grade, as it shows this wing can truly deliver unmatched combat air power." 

The PACAF IG team also handed out a number of specific awards to individuals and teams that performed well above the standard during the ORI. There were 76 individual outstanding performers mentioned by the IG team, as well as 14 outstanding teams. 

The IG also presented 15 coins to individuals who displayed a truly high level of professionalism and exceptional skill during the week-long inspection, and General Williams handed out 20 coins of his own to exceptional performers. 

Even as the 18th Wing underwent their inspection last week, members of the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron underwent their own ORI which resulted in an excellent, giving Team Kadena as a whole an excellent rating. 

Even though the inspection is over, it's important for members of Team Kadena to maintain the level of excellence they showed during the inspection, said General Williams. 

"Kadena hasn't moved, and the mission hasn't changed," said General Williams. "We will continue to be prepared and to provide combat air power to the region." 

The general did tell the audience members to take a moment and enjoy the achievement as they prepare to head back to work and to continue the mission. 

"I appreciate all the work that everyone has done," said General Williams. "I can't say thank you enough to the Airmen and the leaders for what we accomplished."