20th FW gearing up for exercise Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 Published Nov. 4, 2009 By Senior Airman Kathrine McDowell 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Phase I Operational Readiness Exercise Sea Lion 10-01 will start Nov. 30 and end Dec. 4, the first exercise of its kind since Oct. 2008. Once the exercise order to deploy is dropped, the ORE will allow the base to practice deployment procedures as if it had received a real-world tasking. During the transition from peacetime readiness to a wartime posture, best practices can be noted and short comings can be fixed. "The purpose of a Phase I is to test our ability to respond to a unit Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) crisis deployment type tasking not tied to a specific theater of operations," said Master Sgt. Karl Bowlby, Wing Inspections superintendant. After all Airmen are present and accounted for, evaluators will grade troops on the deployment and redeployment of aircraft, personnel and cargo. At the center of this exercise will be the Chandler Deployment Processing Center. All personnel and cargo will be processed at the site. "The DPC offers the unique advantage of tight command and control to the deployment process," said 1st Lt. Zachary Buckallew, installation deployment officer. "It is a one-stop-shop with all deployment functions for personnel and cargo at one location." Even though Shaw is more than three years away from the next Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection, each Airman should internalize the idea that they can be called to arms as soon as today, officials noted. "I expect every Airman involved to take this exercise seriously," said Col. Joseph Guastella, 20th Fighter Wing commander. "We will all learn from this endeavor and we will apply that knowledge to improve our readiness to defend our nation's interests world-wide." "The Airmen of the 20th FW should approach this Phase I exercise as the real thing!" the colonel continued. "Our mission is to always be ready to deploy, and able to fight. Given the unpredictable world we live in, we must be vigilant and prepared at all times. The Phase I exercise allows us to practice the 'deployment' phase of a conflict. From initial tasking, to deployment prep, to aircraft generation, to the actual processing and loading of personnel and cargo, this exercise ensures we are ready." "The base will be challenged by the Phase I ORE," said Lieutenant Buckallew. "We will rise above it as we always have." Hours of operations for base services during the exercise have yet to be determined. Plan on calling the desired section for more information before seeing them that day.