Shoguns get it done during ORI

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Christopher Marasky
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena Airmen have spent this week showing what they are made of here during the 2008 Pacific Air Forces Operational Readiness Inspection. 

During ORI the PACAF Inspector General use scenarios to determine the 18th Wing's ability to survive and operate in a wartime environment, said Col. Donald Weckhorst, PACAF inspector general. 

"The IG's mission is to provide the PACAF commander with an independent assessment of the 18th Wing's ability to prepare for and conduct combat operations," he said. 

The inspection covered many areas such as deploying and receiving personnel, defending the base both on the ground and in the air, and the ability to survive missile attacks. 

"The IG uses a realistic and robust scenario to test the wing's considerable capabilities," said Colonel Weckhorst. "Due to the size and complexity of the wing's mission, this is the single largest wing operational readiness inspection in the United States Air Force." 

Along with the large inspection for the 18th Wing, the Air Mobility Command IG is on base to test the 733rd Air Mobility Squadron during their ORI, allowing for the combined IG to create one large inspection. 

The PACAF IG team has also received assistance from Kunsan Air Base, Korea which provided a dozen F-16s to assist with the inspection by playing the role of adversary air.
 
The ORI gives members of Team Kadena the ability to show the PACAF commander their capabilities, and for some Airmen, it reaffirms the mission here at Kadena. 

"This is my first ORI," said Senior Airman Dan Houston, 18th Contracting Squadron who's working in the 18th Mission Support Squadron unit control center. 

"I think it's important because it helps prepare us for what we're here to do and what our job would be in this environment," he said. "It helps us prepare for any type of situation we may be around." 

As the wing conducts simulated combat operations and responds to various scenarios, the IG has been impressed by the attitude and determination shown by Team Kadena, said Colonel Weckhorst. 

"Even though we are only in the middle of the inspection I can relay that the IG team is impressed with the wing's preparations and with the attitudes of the Airmen across the wing to execute the mission to fly, fight and win," he said. 

According to the 18th Wing commander, it's no accident the wing has shown up ready to fight. "As Shogun warriors, our job is to be trained and ready to execute our combat mission 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," said Brig. Gen. Brett Williams. 

"This ORI is an opportunity for us to show our PACAF leadership that we're up to that challenge, and I think we're doing just that," said General Williams. 

The ORI is scheduled to conclude March 14.