Nellis, Creech prepare for upcoming ORI Published March 11, 2009 By Dan Owens Director, 99th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- If the terms ICC, EOC, IDRC, IDO, IDP, DCC, UDM, PDF, CDF, PTDO, FPCON and TBMCS leave you wondering if you should buy another vowel, it is time to brush up on your operational readiness terminology. Air Combat Command's Operational Readiness Inspection team is scheduled to visit Nellis Dec. 1-6 to test the base's wartime deployment readiness and the installation's security measures. While the inspection primarily focuses on 99 ABW units and 820th RED HORSE Squadron, other organizations will experience some minor play as the ACC/IG tests and stresses Nellis' resources and processes. In preparation for ORI, the 99 ABW Plans and Readiness Division has scheduled several exercises over the next nine months. The first is scheduled for March 30-31 and includes evaluations of initial response, command and control, recall procedures, unit deployment readiness and cargo preparation. "The wing uses these exercises to gauge our ability to meet wartime taskings," said Ernie Giovannoni, 99 ABW evaluations. "It is extremely important for exercise evaluation team members to understand the deployment process and be actively involved in unit readiness processes. This will ensure an honest assessment of a unit's capability and provide constructive feedback to commanders for improving the overall process." In addition to readiness, communication is critical for a successful exercise. Nellis recently introduced the Theater Battle Management Core System to improve the flow of information. "TBMCS provides the critical node for Wing Leadership to make accurate and timely decisions," said Andy Roth, Nellis' TBMCS program manager. "The morning of the ORE is not the time to find out your account has been disabled. To ensure organizations are ready for the exercise, TBMCS managers need to sign into the system every 30 days or the system will remove your account automatically." Another cornerstone to success during an ORE or ORI is vigilance. "Increased security awareness is vital in the protection of resources," said Mr Julian Santistevan, 99 ABW anti-terrorism officer. "Units must follow Force Protection Conditions and conduct random anti-terrorism measures in an accurate and timely manner. Unit anti-terrorism monitors need to ensure they have the current wing checklist and know the correct procedures to properly report unit compliance RAMS in accordance with the Nellis installation anti-terrorism plan." "We need to take advantage of every opportunity to practice the way we fight," said Col. Dave Belote, 99th Air Base Wing, commander. "We have a lot of new people that may or may not be familiar with our deployment processes. OREs are a sure-fire way to ensure we have the processes down and everyone is on the same sheet of music."
