News

Reservists succeed at readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Lori Fiorello
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  The 446th Airlift Wing teamed up with its active-duty brothers and sisters from the 62nd Airlift Wing and 627th Air Base Group for an Operational Readiness Inspection at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis. Oct. 13-20. Team McChord deployed 13 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and crucial expeditionary combat support to successfully accomplish the mission requirements.

"Success is the best word I can use for the performance of our Reservists," said Col. Bruce Bowers Jr., 446th AW commander. "Our ORI deployers, and everyone who supported them, demonstrated to the Air Mobility Command Inspector General that in every aspect of the inspection, we are a skilled and professional team. It was the best team effort I've seen in 30 years!"

Other wing Reservists look back at their time in service and ORI experiences.

"Reflecting back over the 23 years I've spent in this wing, I never remember a time when we weren't excellent," said Lt. Col. Pat Kearney, chief of 446th AW Process Management.
"We have incredible air reserve technicians who continue to train our next generation of Airmen. We have a history of excellence that will always be with us," added Kearney.

Training diligently under the purview of the 446th AW Combat Readiness team, the 446th AW provided 319 Citizen Airmen to go along with the 358 active-duty Airmen for the inspection.

"The best part of the job is that we provide an effective framework for bringing out the best in people," said Lt. Col. David Jeske, 446th AW chief of Combat Readiness. "This inspection was not about a grade. The single-most important take away is to look at all we've learned."

Jeske and his staff have been responsible for testing and preparing the wing to meet mission requirements by building Operational Readiness Exercises and training evaluation plans.

"The inspectors dug deep looking for areas we can improve upon while we showcased our excellence in several areas," said Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Mack, 446th AW command chief. "I am in awe of the efforts displayed by the men and women of the 446th AW, and I encourage you to accept this level of readiness as our new standard; 2013 is the year to stay current, qualified, and ready to fight!"

Exceptional teams and individual performers were recognized for their significant contributions to mission success. The following and their respective units were recognized:

Individual recognition
Senior Master Sgt. Edgar Reinfeld Jr., 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Lazare Quintana, 446th Civil Engineer Squadron
Tech. Sgt. Chad Walgren, 446th Logistics Readiness Squadron
Senior Airman Rachel Bohannon, 446th CES

IG coin recipient
Tech. Sgt. Valerie Ilagan, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

Team recognition
446th AMXS Unit Control Center
446th AMXS Flightline Production
446th AW Judge Advocate
446th Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Operations Center