ORE tests wing ability to deploy

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Stuart Camp
  • Superintendent, public affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Air Commandos began mobilizing Tuesday during an operational readiness exercise.
The multi-day exercise is measuring the 16th Special Operations Win-g’s ability to process passengers and cargo, generate aircraft and operate from a forward location.
The entire scenario is being played out on Hurlburt Field. 

This is the fifth exercise in the build-up to the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection, but the first for linking the initial response and employment phase together in consecutive days. 

Exercises to this point have focused on the mobilization or down-range employment and, according to senior officials, more exercises are scheduled to build to the ORI crescendo. 

“We are in the fast-walk stage (of development),” said Lt. Col Daniel Gard, 16th SOW Inspector General office. 

ORE participants met in the base theater last week for an orientation to the “rules of engagement” and purpose of the exercise. 

“Our wing is already engaged in combat operations in central command area of responsibility,” said 16th SOW Vice Commander Col. Paul Harmon. “The goal is training to fight and win.” 

“We’ll demonstrate to the IG team in June that America’s Air Commandos are prepared to deploy and fight ‘any time, any place.” 

Activities, including use of the 'Giant Voice' broadcast system, will deviate from the normal activities at Hurlburt and might continue into the late evening. There are no expected changes to normal traffic in or out of the base.