452 AMW goes to war

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Lleras from the 452nd Security Forces Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., searches a host national for unauthorized material at an entry control point, during Operational Readiness Exercise, Crisis Challenge 09-12B, at the Combat Readiness Center in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 19, 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez)

452 AMW goes to war

U.S. Airmen from March Air Reserve base, Calif., prepare to unload a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, transporting service members and equipment to take part in Operational Readiness Exercise, Crisis Challenge 09-12B, at the Combat Readiness Center in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 17, 2012. During the exercise, evaluators determine wing members’ ability to mobilize, deploy, survive in combat environments and redeploy to home station. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez)

452 AMW goes to war

U.S. Airmen from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., prepare for MOPP 4 conditions during the Operational Readiness Exercise, Crisis Challenge 09-12B, at the Combat Readiness Center in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 17, 2012. As shown, members are required to don their protective masks in the one-knee down position. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez)

452 AMW goes to war

Published Oct. 4, 2012
By Lt. Col. Donald Traud
452 AMW public affairs

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. -- Last week, various units from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing joined the 445th Airlift Wing to become the 132nd Air Expeditionary Wing at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss. to participate in an Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE).

An ORE is divided into several major areas: initial response and deployment, employment, ability to survive and operate and redeployment.

Initial response and deployment includes all the activities from notification by higher headquarters, recall, mobilization and deployment. It's getting the people, equipment and aircraft ready to deploy.

The Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) may be the hardest part of an ORE. It entails doing your job in various conditions. The inspectors want to know if the wing can protect and preserve the fighting force and continue the mission. Can the wing survive chemical attacks, ground attacks and sabotage? Can the wing deal with accidents such as injuries, fires and fuel spills?

The ORE helps the wing gain experience and improve its capability which will be graded in the upcoming Operation Readiness Inspection.