Gunfighters pass Operational Readiness Inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Megan P. Lyon
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - --  The 366th Fighter Wing successfully completed and received a passing grade for the March 13 - 20 Operational Readiness Inspection Coronet White 07-ACC-14, an inspection Gunfighters have prepared for since early 2007.

Hundreds of Gunfighters cheered as Col. Jim Browne, 366th FW commander, announced the results of the ORI during a wing-wide commander's call in Hangar 201, March 21.

"Mountain Home AFB is the first base since 2005 to pass a combined Phase I and II inspection," said Colonel Browne. "The ORI gives Gunfighters the chance to show the [Inspector General] their capabilities."

The Air Combat Command IG team graded four major categories: initial response, employment, mission support, ability to survive and operate. A number of sub-areas were also graded in order to determine if the wing performed the mission in ways that exceeded the standard. A five-tiered rating system is used to grade performance and consists of outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal, and unsatisfactory.

"Over the past week, the ACC IG team evaluated the 366th FW during a demanding and intense scenario designed to stress the wing in a simulated combat environment," said Col. George Duda, ACC IG team chief.

During the week-long inspection, 105 inspectors used realistic scenarios to test the wing's capabilities. The IG watched as Gunfighters displayed their knowledge in 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.

During the overall scenario, "Higher Headquarters" tasked the 366th FW to operate from a forward operating location in support of a steady aerospace expeditionary force tasking. During the Phase II, HHQ tasked the wing to support an air tasking order with 38 aircraft for in-theater offensive counter air, defensive counter air, interdiction and close air support. The 366th FW was tasked with more than 150 sorties during the Phase II. The wing flew 142 of the tasked sorties and was successful on 113 of 117 of the evaluated sorties.

The ACC 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 169 individual superior performers recognized by the IG team, as well as 26 superior teams.

"The 366th FW personnel proved they can effectively deploy and employ combat airpower and combat support to meet their wartime mission," said Colonel Duda.