Mission complete Published June 18, 2009 By 2nd Lt. Emily Chilson 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airmen of the 20th Fighter Wing went to 'war' this week, proving their ability to accomplish the mission in a wartime environment as more than 100 Air Combat Command inspectors observed. Simulated events from computer viruses to missile attacks continually plagued Base X, the area of Shaw Air Force Base used for the three-day Operational Readiness Inspection. Transition day events began Sunday at midnight, and set the pace for the rest of the ORI as the wing prepared for battle. Transition day included a live burn, giving firefighters the chance to prove themselves against an aircraft fire; a convoy, complete with simulated insurgent attacks; and a crash-damaged aircraft recovery. The fight officially began Monday at midnight. More than 2,000 Airmen, from maintainers to security technicians to pilots, processed through the transition area located in an aircraft hangar to don their mission-oriented protective posture gear, more commonly known as MOPP gear, and report for duty. The members of the Inspector General team threw a variety of problems at the 20th's Airmen, and tested their ability to react and recover from air and ground attacks, fires and injuries. When the alarm sounded, Airmen knew exactly how to react, and react quickly. "The IG team has put more emphasis on the attacks, with multiple happening at one time," said Tech. Sgt. Amber Harvey, NCOIC Knowledge Operations Management for the 20th Operations Group. "I think the wing plans and inspections office prepared us." For Sergeant Harvey, this ORI is her fourth. During the inspection, she works in the Emergency Operations Center as Emergency Support Function 17. It's her responsibility to serve as a liaison between the fighter squadrons, the 20th Operational Support Squadron and the Installation Control Center, where 20th FW leadership makes mission-critical decisions for the wing. "I let them know what's going on in alarm and MOPP conditions, and possible threats," she said." We primarily communicate through Jabber [think instant messaging], the telephone and SIPRNET [Secure Internet Protocol Router network]." Base X was subjected to both missile and ground attacks. Missile attacks simulated theater ballistic missiles hitting Base X and releasing chemical agents that threaten Airmen and equipment with contamination. Ground attacks, with simulated explosions and "insurgents," challenge Airmen to defend Base X. Airmen who receive simulated injuries or are simulated killed in action, are processed through the Base X Deployed Medical Facility. After an attack, the fight continues. It's not the time to take a break, but the time to act quickly, treating injured personnel, assessing damage and conducting post-attack reconnaissance sweeps for chemical contamination around Base X so Airmen can prepare for the next attack. "The most challenging part of my job in the EOC, is figuring out what's going on after an attack," said 1st Lt. Daniel Skinner, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of operations support. "We have to gather accurate information so we can use facility-prioritization lists to determine where to send repair teams first." Firefighters are a critical part of the post-attack, standing by to respond to simulated fires in various facilities around Base X. "After-attack is when they're busy," said Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Clegg, deputy fire chief." "It's their job to protect the mission-critical facilities to ensure viability of sortie generation." The ORI is all about generating sorties, or take offs and landings. But when real-world factors like thunderstorms and heat are mixed with the IG's simulated attacks for the ORI, it makes for a tall order. "Weather is the biggest factor," said Lt. Col. Doug "Cinco" DeMaio, 55th Fighter Squadron commander. "It's been the biggest stressor on our operations." During the exercise, Colonel DeMaio plays the role of mission director in the EOC, where it's all about "information flow." While fielding continual updates on aircraft status as maintainers prepare F-16s for flight, he communicates with the Top 3 in the fighter squadrons to ensure the sorties are generated. This marks Colonel DeMaio's seventh ORI since he began his career in the Air Force. "I've never seen a better team," he said. "And it's due to [this wing's] leadership. They've enabled us to be the best team I've ever seen." The maintenance team on the flightline worked tirelessly night and day, even in high temperatures while wearing MOPP gear, to generate the 240 sorties scheduled for the ORI. Temperature readings taken by the Bioenvironmental Engineering flight went well into the 90s at various points during the ORI, and what's called a thermal stress index, reached 100 degrees. "It's the temperature your body actually feels," said 1st Lt. Mike Salyer, BEE flight commander. "It takes into account your body's actual cooling mechanisms such as sweating." The BEE flight provides the thermal stress index for the wing, and using the information, gives recommended work/rest cycles and water intake schedules to the commander. These cycles and schedules are used to mitigate heat-stress injuries and protect Airmen. Also protecting Airmen is the wing's Chief of Safety, Lt. Col. Phillip Hamilton, who, along with his ground, weapons and flight safety NCOs, patrolled Base X throughout the ORI. "I have to be a sensor for the commander," he said. "It's our job to watch out for the wing, by looking for everything from speeding, to dangerous situations developing, to monitoring Airmen, and how they look and feel." While it's important to generate sorties and defend Base X, injured Airmen and unnecessarily wasted resources, call into question the wing's ability to successfully complete the mission. "I think the wing has responded to the challenge very well," Colonel Hamilton said. "Attitudes have been great, there's an almost calm demeanor that has settled over the wing now that the actual inspection has arrived." Firefighters raised the bar during the transition day pilot extraction, with a Shaw AFB record time of 34 seconds. During the extraction, firefighters open the F-16 canopy, and pull the unconscious pilot from the cockpit. This type of extraction is necessary in an emergency when the pilot is unable to get out of the jet through his or her own efforts. "It confirms the fire department's ability to rescue pilots who are in trouble," said David Blackstone, Shaw Fire Department assistant chief of training. Ultimately, the wing's grade won't be known until Saturday morning. But from the youngest Airman, to the wing commander, everyone knows the months and months of lead-up and Operational Readiness Exercises paid off in spades.