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Shaw exercises to sharpen deployment skills

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Airmen here tested their combat capability and readiness over a five-day period as part of a Phase I operational readiness exercise, which ended July 18.

The exercise was good practice for the wing's upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection beginning Aug. 5.

Phase I exercises demonstrate the wing's ability to prepare for, process and move personnel and cargo while simultaneously generating, deploying and regenerating F-16s in combat configurations, said Lt. Col. Phillip Hamilton, 20th Fighter Wing plans and inspections chief.

"This Phase I exercise continued to show improvement as have recent OREs," said Col. James Post, 20th FW commander. "We continue to demonstrate our ability to solidify processes, sharpen our skill sets and build confidence in each other."

Some areas of strength in the wing include the cargo deployment and the personnel deployment function, Colonel Hamilton said.

"We are really hitting full stride in those departments because people are demonstrating an increased level of expertise," he said.

Having the new Chandler Deployment Processing Center has been a contributing factor to improvement as well.

"The new facility has really brought us into the 21st Century," Colonel Hamilton said.

Instead of walking out the back door and getting on a bus, Airmen are walking out the back door and getting on a plane, he said. Within hours, the Airmen find themselves on the other side of the world prepared to participate in any contingency operation.

"As with any run up to an inspection, we are always looking for that certain something that will make all the difference -- and that is attitude, attention to detail and safety," Colonel Hamilton said. "We are always looking to emphasize core deployment and maintenance elements."

He also commented that this was a great practice for the upcoming ORI as well as a great practice for real-world contingencies.

"The inspector general from the ORI wants to see us do our best," Colonel Hamilton said. "We need to engage and demonstrate to them a level of technical competence combined with professionalism."

"The difference between a 'satisfactory' and an 'outstanding' is a little more effort," Colonel Post said.

"Ask yourself where you ought to be," the commander said. "Don't allow your daily standards to slip because if you do, your processes will have to change during the inspection," Colonel Post said. "However, if you perform each task the right way every day with the goal of excellence in mind, you will not have to worry who is looking."