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1st SOW completes exercise

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Mark Lazane
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Editor's note: This article is the first in a series to help prepare Team Hurlburt for an operational readiness inspection in February 2010.

The 1st Special Operations Wing held one of a series of full-scale operational readiness exercises here Aug. 18-21 in preparation for the ORI scheduled for early 2010.

Airmen and civilian players were recalled at various times throughout the night to report to the deployment control center for a mass inprocessing briefing to "deploy" to Base X.

At Base X they immediately began transforming a previously barren spot of land into a full-scale military base, to include flying operations, secured communications, beddown locations and medical and personnel services.

"The 1st SOW is the most relevant wing in the United States Air Force, but it's imperative that we maintain operational readiness for all possible missions, even while faced with ongoing overseas contingency operations," said Col. Gregory Lengyel, 1st SOW commander. "Yes, we've been continuously deployed since 9/11, but there are some skill sets that we're not regularly using in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom."

The exercises are being held in order to ensure all Airmen understand their roles in a deployed environment.

OREs enable Air Force units to practice their mission, to practice conducting a rapid deployment and to practice how to operate special operations missions under such circumstances, said Maj. Allen Stewart, 1st SOW deputy inspector general.

"I like to use a football analogy to explain the purpose of the OREs," Major Stewart said. "This last ORE was our walk through with the playbook. Our next ORE will be longer and less compressed, sort of like a full-pad practice and scrimmage. The ORE we will have in January, right before the actual ORI can be considered our pre-season game. That way, when the actual inspection occurs, all the players will be warmed up, ready to go and will understand the task at hand."

The 1st SOW will conduct at least 2 more OREs, participate in a multi-lateral exercise to practice key flying skills and will also conduct more ability to survive and operate rodeos, said Maj. Stewart.

"It is imperative folks know their procedures, like ATSO and self-aid buddy care," Major Stewart said. If folks run into issues they can't overcome, they should use their chain of command so it can get the correct attention at the correct level to bring about the right solution."

Colonel Lengyel is optimistic about the upcoming ORI and has set high goals for the 1st SOW.

"My expectations couldn't be higher," Colonel Lengyel said. "'Outstanding' is the highest possible grade, and I think that's exactly what we should shoot for. My intent is to prove to our major command commander that we are still ready for any contingency, Any Time, Any Place."