ORE: practice makes perfect

  • Published
  • By Airman Kimberly Limrick
  • Black hills Bandit Staff
Ellsworth will begin its second Phase II Operational Readiness Exercise Monday in preparation for July’s Operational Readiness Inspection.

Phase II of an ORE is a deployment exercise that takes place in a simulated forward-operating location. There, the practicing team exercises day 30 of a deployment and day two of war.

During OREs, unit exercise evaluation team members grade their units using AFI 90-201 Air Combat Command Supplement 1 addendum A. Their results are scored as outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal or unsatisfactory.

“Wings conduct OREs periodically throughout the year to assess units’ strengths and weaknesses,” said Master Sgt. Paul Reiter, 28th Bomb Wing wing readiness and evaluation superintendent. “These OREs give wing commanders a picture of how prepared units are to employ their forces.”

The largest area of focus during an ORE is the ability to survive and operate in wartime conditions. ATSO consists of the fundamental skills Airmen need when they deploy.

“Normally, Airmen don’t practice doing their trade during combat operations,” said Sergeant Reiter. “It’s better to learn how to perform their skills now, during an artificial means of applying wartime stress, rather than during actual wartime.”

Airmen should prepare for this exercise by reading their Airman’s Manual, becoming familiar with their units’ objectives, studying unexploded ordnance reporting instructions and attending Self Aid Buddy Care classes and chemical warfare refresher training.

During the exercise, Airmen can expect realistic scenarios allowing them to exercise fundamentals learned in the above mentioned areas.

“This wing knows we are the best heavy bomber base in Air Combat Command, and we’ve proven this over and over again,” said Sergeant Reiter. “This ORE is a springboard for us to prepare for the ACC Inspector General Operational Readiness Inspection.”

“I expect every player to do the best job he can. If everybody pulls together as a team, the wing will excel in its mission,” Sergeant Reiter said.