ORE focuses on convoy operations, deployment line processing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Julius Delos Reyes
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Edwards performed its Operational Readiness Exercise June 18 through 21. 

This was Edwards' first ORE since the Operational Readiness Inspection in March.

"Our primary focus is successfully passing the Phase I retest in July," said Lt. Col. Greg Ahlquist, the installation Inspector General. "We have a solid plan to get through Phase I. We are practicing as often as we can to ensure we are executing and keeping our efficiencies." 

During the March ORI, the base received an unsatisfactory rating in the initial response category. Initial response is the processing of Edwards Airmen to deployed locations. It consists of processing cargo, assembling the troops, processing them into the line and providing them with any mode of transportation they need to get to their deployed locations.

Colonel Ahlquist said the base still need to overcome some obstacles. 

"It is not perfect yet," Colonel Ahlquist said. "But with each subsequent exercise, we will learn more. We refined the process and made it more efficient so we can get closer to our goal." 

Colonel Ahlquist said the base is doing Phase I exercises at a much higher frequency. 

"We have high hopes that we are going to see outstanding results with this particular go-around for Phase I," he said. "We have two more practices in July prior to the ORI Phase I retest." 

He said that the IG needs to see the process work all the way from the beginning to the end. 

In addition to the Phase I portion of the ORE, the base also performed a table-top exercise with the 95th Security Forces Squadron, Kern County Sheriff's Department and the Muroc Joint Unified School District. 

"It involved simulating a shooting incident in an on-base school," Colonel Ahlquist said. "It was designed to test our abilities to respond to such events. It was very informative." 

The base also responded to a simulated B-2 Bomber crash at Mojave, Calif., to test the base's emergency management capabilities and cooperate with local agencies. Security assessment teams also probed the base's security systems including staging a protest at South Gate, presenting fake identification cards and accessing the flightline without proper authorization. 

During the exercise's Phase II, Team Edwards had the chance to experience convoy operations. 

"The Phase II exercise we conducted was our first attempt to perform convoy operations," Colonel Ahlquist said. 

To inject realism into the Airmen's training, Col. Bryan Gallagher, 95th Air Base Wing commander, directed Colonel Ahlquist to implement a mission for the troops simulating convoy operations in forward locations. 

The Air Force's mission is ever-changing and this includes convoy operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Tech. Sgt. Edward Eichinger, 95th Security Forces Squadron training noncommissioned officer in charge. More than 60 percent of all light-medium convoy missions are run by Airmen. 

During the exercise, Sergeant Eichinger and his team taught Edwards Airmen about convoy operations. 

"The (95th SFS) teach convoy operation in the combat skills training that each Edwards Airman receives," Sergeant Eichinger said. 

This includes classroom training, rock drills and walking drills, giving Airmen an idea of how a convoy is operated from the convoy commander all the way down to the driver of each vehicle, Sergeant Eichinger said. 

"However, that is not enough," he said. "Hands-on training enforces muscle memory, which in a high-stress, combat environment, our training is what we rely on." 

Airmen received a hands-on training on driving vehicles, maintaining speed and intervals, maintaining observation of assigned sectors of fire, looking for improvised explosive devices as well as reacting to small arms fire and calling in SALUTE reports. It also included nine-line medical evacuation requests, nine-line IED reports, treating casualties and downed vehicles. 

"The Edwards Airmen's mission was a medical evacuation where they take supplies to the deployed location and take back injured and wounded personnel," Colonel Ahlquist said. 

The mission included 12 vehicle convoys and 50 troops. The team has to encounter obstacles such as rough terrain, improvised explosive devices and convoy attacks by militants. 

"Every member involved in convoy operations performed well beyond my expectations," Sergeant Eichinger said. "They were able to take a 46-day course, condensed into one-day of classroom training and half-day of practical application. They were able to successfully combat and execute the correct procedures for IEDs, small arms fire and casualty care." 

For the subsequent exercises, convoy operations will integrate with what has been traditionally been included in the past OREs.

"Traditionally, you have to man and operate an austere location and demonstrate your ability to survive and operate," Colonel Ahlquist said. "The ultimate goal is to better prepare Edwards Airmen for the challenges in the field." 

He said he was proud of Team Edwards' performance for the last exercise. 

"I was impressed with the troops' professionalism, the instructors who organized convoy operations training and the emergency management team," Colonel Ahlquist said. "We have some things to work on, but we will get there."