January’s Phase II dress rehearsal proves Dyess is prepared

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Campanile
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With four operational readiness exercises, numerous MOPP 0 and ATSO training days in the past six months, the 7th Bomb Wing has been practicing to make perfect; and Airmen will soon be suiting up for the real thing.

For the fourth and last time before the operational readiness inspection, which is scheduled for Feb. 27 - Mar. 6, Airmen participated in a full-up ORE dress rehearsal.

The general consensus from the inspector general team is that Dyess is ready.

“We improved leaps and bounds at ATSO since we started training back in July,” said Maj. David Fairchilds, 7th BW wing plans and programs chief. “We saw the same kind of improvement in command and control.”

ATSO know-how and the wing’s ability to disseminate information to every unit in a timely manner were among the top-focus items at every pre-ORE brief and in almost every other ORE battlegram.

However, like any real deployment, it’s whether or not planes get in the air and put their bombs on target that makes a mission succeed or fail.

In that respect, the 7th BW IG team believes both aircrews and maintenance teams did a “fantastic job.”

“The big thing is the production and employment of sorties, and it was a huge success,” said Capt. Brian Farmer, 7th BW IG inspections chief.

Captain Farmer mentioned the wing has a few clean-up items left, but as far as the wing’s demonstrating that it knows its job well under adverse conditions and attacks, it did really well.

“We did very well (in the last ORE),” Col. James Hammes, 7th BW IG, said. “It’s obvious to see the trend we’re setting. Everything from here on is icing on the cake.”

But lest Airmen forget the real reason for honing deployment and wartime skills, Captain Farmer reminds the wing its true overall motivation should always be set on real-world deployment preparedness.

“Lots of (Air Force Specialty Codes) don’t always deploy as wings. So self-aid and buddy care and general ATSO skills, like (unexploded ordnance) identification and reporting skills, are skills that are going to save lives,” he said. “Surging our capability in worst-case scenarios as we have been is going to save lives.”

Today, there are 40 days and counting to the ORI. Airmen could get called up for deployment at a moment’s notice, and they should be ready.

Until then, ORI success should be in the forefront of the wing’s efforts.

Collectively, the IG team offers these overall words of advice: “Make sure to pay attention to detail. Keep a positive attitude. No matter what, don’t argue with the inspectors.”

Captain Farmer also reminds Airmen, “Continue to really work at knowing your job. Be familiar with your Airman’s Manual. Be familiar with the Base X plan, and continue to become an expert on your responsibilities.”

He adds, “Keep a positive attitude. Don’t shy away from the evaluators. The inspectors are here to observe us and give us inputs, but, ultimately, they’re here to help us.”

Captain Farmer also recommends units review previous ORE reports, which were updated to include January’s ORE report earlier this week. The reports may be viewed by going to the 7th BW IG Web site at https://wwwmil.dyess.af.mil/7ig and clicking on the “Inspections” tab, then the “Reports” tab on the left-hand side menu.

In addition to Airmen continuing to refresh their job knowledge and ATSO skills until the ORI, the wing can look forward to “PAR Team Olympics,” where post attack reconnaissance teams, unit control center and survival and recovery center personnel will further their skills.

The PAR Team Olympics, which was originally planned for January, is scheduled for Feb. 15.

After the ORI is over, the next commandlevel inspection, most likely a unit compliance inspection, isn’t expected for a few years, but the IG team plans to organize a Phase I ORE in the spring and another Phase II in the fall.

“(Training) won’t really be over because we’ll always train to this level,” Captain Farmer said. “We’ll continue to validate what we already know.”