Getting the RATs out of the way Published June 15, 2009 By Tech. Sgt. Jake Chappelle 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Even though the Operational Readiness Inspection is scheduled for October, a handful of Reservists from two units from the 446th AW have already passed with flying colors. In May, Inspector General teams from Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., evaluated the 446th Operations Group and the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, on a total of six Unit Type Codes needed to pass the ORI. A UTC is a specialty code used to define the various jobs Airmen specialize in. "We scored an excellent rating from the IG team," said Col. Jan Moore-Harbert, 446th AES commander. "We received many compliments from the inspectors. One of them said our AES was one of the best crews they'd ever seen." So, how were these units able to pass inspection before the ORI? When a unit is required to be part of an ORI, they can participate in the Readiness Assessment Team inspection program, or RAT, where an IG team from AMC goes out to the unit's deployment site and observes and evaluates the unit on certain tasks. The unit is rated by the inspector and if a passing score is received, the unit is checked off on that particular job task or specialty for the ORI. Any tasks not performed still have to be completed at the ORI. The RAT program was created to save resources and time at the ORI by reviewing UTCs that a wing normally performs as part of their day-to-day mission. The AMC IG must approve all UTCs that a wing requests to be approved by the RAT program. According to Colonel Moore-Harbert, using RATs aren't a bad idea. "The AES's RAT was one of the first exposures for the 446th," said Colonel Moore-Harbert. "It's nice to already be checked off on two UTCs going into the ORI." Lt. Col. Tony Angello, the 446th Operations Group Operational Readiness Inspection planner, was able to get his unit signed off on four tasks. The 446th OG performed two RATs at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.," said Colonel Angello. "The IG tasked the 446th OG with 21 C-17 Globemaster aircrews for inspection. All specialties not inspected for ORIs are done at the RATs." The 446th OG received praise from the IG similar to the 446th AES. " 'Outstanding performance,' 'excellent work,' etcetera, were a lot of the comments and feedback we got from the IG team," said Colonel Angello. Colonel Angello feels the 446th OG wouldn't have been as successful without the help of other 446th Airlift Wing units. "Master Sgt. Randall Wentz supplied us with C-17 maintenance and kept our sortie rate at 90 percent with a minimal amount of equipment," said Colonel Angello. Sergeant Wentz is a flightline maintenance expeditor with the 446th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The role of the maintenance squadron is to generate the aircraft. They prepare each aircraft for flight, and recover each aircraft upon returning from its particular mission. The 446th OG can put its approved UTCs behind it. "We're happy to have that big chunk of meat off our plate," said Colonel Angello. "Having four UTCs checked off will make the ORI more manageable." The 86th Aerial Port Squadron is scheduled to have its RAT in August.