Capt. Larry Abee and Capt. Mike Chrapkiewkz follow their pre-flight inspection checklist prior to conducting a mission Oct. 27, 2011, at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. Pre-flight inspections ensure the avionics on the aircraft are working properly and that the aircraft is prepared for flight. More than 600 Airmen participated in this week-long exercise to prepare for Joint Base Charleston's, S.C., upcoming operational readiness inspection. Abee and Chrapkiewkz are pilots from the 300th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ian Hoachlander)

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Members of the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings and the 628th Air Base Wing take part in the operational readiness exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., Oct. 25, 2011. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Henry Lancaster)

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A member of the 437th Airlift Wing takes part in an operational readiness exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., Oct. 25, 2011. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Henry Lancaster)

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A member of the 315th Airlift Wing, takes part in an operational readiness exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., Oct. 26, 2011. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Henry Lancaster)

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A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III maintainer inspects the aircraft's engines during an operational readiness exercise, Oct. 27, 2011. Members of the 437th Airlift Wing, the 315th Airlift Wing and the 628th Air Base Wing took part in the ORE at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Henry Lancaster)

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Firefighters from the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron clean up after an exercise scenario during the operational readiness exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. Oct. 27, 2011. The firefighters practiced extinguishing a fire on a C-17 Globemaster III to hone their skills in preparation of an emergency. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ian Hoachlander)

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Staff Sgt. Vincent White conducts a pre-flight inspection prior to a mission at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss, Oct. 27, 2011. Pre-flight inspections are mandatory before every flight to ensure the aircraft is working properly. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. White is a loadmaster with the 300th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ian Hoachlander)

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Members of the 628th Air Base Wing make their way to their areas of responsibility during an operational readiness exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., Oct. 28, 2011. The ORE is intended to evaluate Team Charleston's, S.C., ability to "take the fight to the enemy" and objectively measure mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Henry Lancaster)

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Final rehearsal prepares Team Charleston for ORI

Published Oct. 31, 2011
By Senior Airman Ian Hoachlander
Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C -- Airmen from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., began returning home Oct. 29, following a week-long exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss.

More than 600 Airmen deployed to form the 121st Air Expeditionary Wing as part of exercise Operation Crisis Look, in which Charleston Airmen and C-17 aircraft simulated a deployment to Nagoya, Japan, to support U.S. and allied military operations on the Korean peninsula.

The operational readiness exercise focused on both the readiness of the units of Joint Base Charleston and their capabilities of deploying and working in contingency operations.

Scenarios Airmen participated in tested both individual units and the wing as a whole on the response and recovery capabilities from conventional threats, chemical threats and ground attacks. The wing was also tested a base security stand point.

"The ORE is important because it is our last test or practice of our deployment procedures and policies prior to the operational readiness inspection," said Col. Erik Hansen, 437th Airlift Wing commander and the deployed 121st AEW commander. "This ORE will be the final opportunity to evaluate our deployment process in the same manner the Air Mobility Command inspectors will test us."

As part of the exercise, Airmen from each wing processed through the base mobility line in less than 48 hours. In addition to the amount of Airmen processed, more than 215 short tons of cargo was processed, palletized and loaded onto the aircraft.

This ORE, Team Charleston proved its deployment readiness was more focused than the previous exercise, said Lt. Col. Steven Noll, 437th Airlift Wing ORI lead planner and the deployed 121st AEW Installation Control Center executive.

"This ORE was more involved than the last because we were able to fully fill all the UTCs that are tasked for the ORI, where during the last ORE we had to shortfall about 80 to 100 positions due to real-world deployments and manning issues," he said. "Additionally, the sense of realism was improved and personnel were even more focused since the ORI is only one month away. I saw many more personnel with their 'game faces' on. They were actually playing the game as if it was real and that is the mentality we need for this inspection."

The ORI is scheduled to begin Nov. 29 and run through Dec. 6.

"We will absolutely be ready by the time the AMC inspectors arrive at the end of November," Noll said. "There is always more training or planning that can be done, but I am 100 percent confident in the abilities and professionalism of our Airmen to get the job done. There is no doubt in my mind we will achieve an 'excellent' standard on the ORI and with a little extra polish and a positive attitude, an 'outstanding' is not unachievable."