News

Wing passes readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  With validation from the Air Mobility Command Inspector General, Airmen from the 446th Airlift Wing can rest easy knowing they are ready and capable of going to war. After a week of demonstrating their skills, the Reservists earned an overall rating of Satisfactory for the wing.
The 446th AW went to "war" along side the active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing here and the 319th Air Refueling Wing, Grand Forks, N.D., and 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz., June 11-17. Most of the warriors went to Alpena, Mich., while others set up forward operating bases at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., and Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, N.C. In all, more than 700 Airmen participated in the inspection.
The 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings were able to achieve great success by partnering together to wow the IG team.
According to Maj. Carla Pelster, 446th Operations Flight chief of exercises and evaluations, the AMC/IG has moved away from Expeditionary ORIs, where many units bring many different capabilities to the fight, to the wing ORI concept where the entire wing goes as one and associate units participate with their host unit.
"We were the first host-associate wings to complete an ORI under this new construct," said Major Pelster. "McChord has never done an Initial Response before, and both wings received an excellent in this area."
Col. Stanley Dougherty, Inspections Division chief from Scott AFB, Ill., said Team McChord is more than ready for any wartime tasking and can sustain combat operations during hostilities.
"I can gladly report to General (Duncan) McNabb (commander of Air Mobility Command) that both of these wings are mission-ready," he said during the ORI outbrief June 21. "Congratulations!"
Brig. Gen. Eric Crabtree, 446th AW commander, said "The number of areas rated excellent is a tribute to the hard work and dedication people in the wing put forth. Everyone should be proud that they were able to demonstrate combat readiness in a simulated theater while fighting an actual war in another. There is no question - McChord is a superior team of people!"
The superior team of people General Crabtree speaks of includes Reserve and active duty Airmen.
"Active duty and Reserve logisticians and maintainers worked together seamlessly to successfully generate 100 percent of aircraft missions and deploy all personnel well under the AMC/IG time constraints," said Major Pelster.
The entire wing team also came together in the arena of Ability To Survive and Operate.
"In the past, the wing has struggled with ATSO," said Major Pelster. "We received an excellent in this area. All 446th AW members participated in an intensive ATSO, SABC (Self-aid and Buddy Care), and weapons familiarization class in at least one practice fly away. The wing Airmen trained hard for the ORI and can be proud of their accomplishments."
With the ORI over, General Crabtree sees Reservists taking advantage of a small lull in the action to catch up on other training requirements levied by higher headquarters.