Osan Airmen prepare for readiness inspection

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Paul Kilgallon
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs office
OSAN AIR BASE, REPUBLIC OF KOREA --  Airmen from the 51st Fighter Wing participated in a four-day exercise that began Feb. 8, testing the wing's ability to effectively execute combat operations. 

Exercise "Beverly Midnight 09-01" simulated the 51st Fighter Wing's wartime missions while maintaining operational readiness. 

The exercise's objectives were to obtain combat power generation within specified timelines, proper wear and use of individual protective equipment, and to demonstrate the wing's ability to survive and operate in wartime conditions. 

More importantly, the exercise allows commanders to test the operational capabilities and identify areas that need improvement.

"We design the Operational Readiness Exercise to test our forces on their ability to execute wartime or contingency operations," said Lt. Col. Judson Fancher, 51st Fighter Wing Inspector General. "The information we get from these types of exercises is extremely beneficial because it gives our commanders the opportunity to evaluate
combat capability and provides a robust training scenario for improving our operations." 

Throughout the exercise, Airmen were evaluated on their warrior skills to include their ability to survive and operate in a chemical environment, render self-aid buddy care, respond to realistic combat scenarios within the emergency operations center and unit control center and process through decontamination transition control points. 

Exercise evaluators from the 51 FW Inspector General office challenged the wing with tough scenarios, during which they were required to defend the base, receive follow-on
forces and effectively take the fight north. 

"The 51st FW performed well during this exercise," said Colonel Fancher. "We achieved a number of difficult exercise objectives and I am extremely proud of how the Mustangs
performed this week." 

Col. Thomas Deale, 51st Fighter Wing commander said he was pleased with the results of the exercise and, more importantly, with the level of performance displayed by each Airman in the wing.
 
"The attitude on the flight line and in the field was just remarkable," said Colonel Deale. "I was impressed with the can-do attitude, energy and combat readiness of our Airmen."
Colonel Deale went on to say that we should never forget who and where we are. 

Even though the exercise is over, the wing will continue the hard work for our wartime missions and the upcoming inspection. 

"We are excited to showcase our readiness and our outstanding Airmen to the Pacific Air Force's Inspectors," said Colonel Deale. "The Mustangs are ready to fight and win when called." 

The Air Force conducts ORIs to evaluate and measure the ability of installations to execute their combat mission and to operate and survive in a chemical environment by creating realistic scenarios for exercise evaluations.