Readiness, ready yes!

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt.Monica Dalberg
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Members of the 514th Air Mobility Wing here began actively training in their abilities to operate in wartime conditions in November and their efforts will culminate in June with an Operational Readiness Inspection in Alpena, Mich. 

An ORI is conducted in order to assess and measure a unit's ability to successfully and safely carry out operation plans and assigned tasks during a wartime, contingency or force sustainment mission. 

More than 350 wing members will take part in the ORI alongside their active duty counterparts from the 87th Air Base Wing and the 305th Air Mobility Wing assigned to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst here. Additionally some members of the 403rd Airlift Wing and the 433rd Airlift Wing from Keesler Air Force Base and Lackland Air Force Base, respectively, will also participate. 

The ORI rates a wing's ability to transition from a peacetime to wartime posture and a unit's capability to engage in and meet wartime taskings. Although the inspection is comprehensive, wing members are ready, according to Logistics Readiness Flight commander, Lt. Col. Robert Kownacky. 

"We've had several major training events beginning with an ORI pep rally in November '08. Since then we've trained hard in self-aid buddy care, weapons familiarization, ability to survive and operate (ATSO) and participated in a full scale combat exercise at Gulfport Air National Guard Base, Mississippi, in March '09," said Colonel Kownacky. 

Wing leadership looked to highlight and hone any weak areas found during the exercise in Gulfport and is confident in strides made to eliminate these deficiencies, he said. "We're well trained and ready for combat and we will win," the colonel stated, "and an outstanding grade is certainly within our reach." 

Master Sgt. James Kana, a unit deployment manager with the 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, agreed at an ORI training event held May 17th. 

"We're ready. Members are confident in their abilities to handle all types of ORI scenarios. They're ready to be engaged," he said. "We'll do well integrating with our active duty brethren." 

In November 2005 the 514th AMW underwent a Joint McGuire ORI and earned a Satisfactory rating.