51 MXG Takes a Hard Look at Readiness

Published Oct. 11, 2014
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 51st Maintenance Group here undertook the task of evaluating their combat readiness with a maintenance verification process Aug. 29 - Sept. 11, 2014, at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

The process involved testing the group's realistic combat readiness in contrast to the Operations Plan of the 7th Air Force and United States Forces Korea. An OPLAN is a formal document created by military commanders in order to conduct specific operations. The 51st MXG voluntarily evaluated and tested their current capabilities to ensure they were in accordance with the OPLANs.

"This wasn't an official inspection," said Col. Victor Mora, 51st MXG commander. "This was a verification of our combat readiness. We looked at ourselves and asked 'How well postured are we to support and defend the Republic of Korea?'"

Conducting the verification involved numerous after-duty hours of research. In addition to the inspection of OPLANs, the group's leadership, from the command to the flight chiefs studied and briefed subordinates on divers documents that specified the logistical wartime capabilities of the group. Ultimately, the group's readiness was measured from top to bottom.

The 51st MXG includes four squadrons: the 51st Maintenance Operations Squadron, 51st Maintenance Squadron, 51st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 51st Munitions Squadron. Each was specifically evaluated on their capabilities of command and control, receiving forces and supporting flight line operations on base. Above all, the inspection was designed to measure their readiness against the standard, proactively identify any shortcomings and buttress their capabilities to provide unrivaled support to the Air Force's most forward deployed, permanently-based fighter wing.

The research and fruits of the verification are a byproduct of the focus on readiness we have seen since implementing the Korean Readiness Orientation program, said Col. Brook Leonard, 51st Fighter Wing commander.

"This was the biggest single leap forward in understanding our ability to generate and sustain combat airpower that I have seen since taking command," said Leonard. "It is a template for all units and I am looking forward to seeing this methodology applied across Team Osan."

Going through the process of investigating their capability effectively tested the 51st MXG's assumed or exercise readiness vs. their realistic and robust OPLAN readiness. The medical and mission support groups are beginning their verifications of medical readiness and reception capabilities respectively.