The lowdown: ORI, phase one Published Dec. 2, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Danielle Wolf 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The 442nd Fighter Wing is scheduled to participate in a phase-one, operational-readiness inspection, August 2010. Phase-one inspections are designed to test a unit's capability to deploy within a 72-hour time frame. "In 2003 we had barely any notice to prepare for Iraq," said Senior Master Sgt. Rodney Kennedy, 442nd Logistics Readiness Squadron plans and integration superintendent. "I was told on a Monday that I'd be deploying and by Wednesday night I was at Fort Hood, Texas, en route. You have to be ready to deploy at any time, because if you get the call, you're not going to be able to go to supply and tell them you need more uniforms." The most important thing Airmen can do to make the process easier for the inspection and more importantly, the deployment, he said, is to be prepared. What to expect For the upcoming exercises and the inspection, Airmen can expect to report early for duty and process through the deployment center, said Tech. Sgt. Shannon Kennedy, personnel readiness chief for the 442nd Mission Support Flight. "We can process about 75 people per hour through the deployment center," she said, "and this is a 24-hour inspection, so some people may process as early as 3 a.m." Who will be inspected "Everyone will practice for the inspection, but not everyone will be inspected," Sergeant Rodney Kennedy said. "We won't know who will 'deploy' until 30 days prior to the (inspector general) team's arrival." The number of Airmen who will be inspected is based on the number of aircraft the IG team tasks, Sergeant Rodney Kennedy said. "For example, if they task us to generate 12 aircraft, that will require about 217 maintainers, 40 operations people and a handful of supervisors to participate, as well as any other (Air Force specialty codes) they choose to inspect," he said. How to prepare "Making sure your ancillary training is up-to-date and you're medically qualified to participate will make life a lot easier, it will make going through the processing line a lot easier too," Sergeant Rodney Kennedy said. Ancillary training needs to be completed in accordance with annual and ORI requirements. Annual computer-based tests and ORI training-requirement-based tests must be completed and current prior to the inspection, according to Sergeant Rodney Kennedy. He also said Airmen need to make sure they are medically qualified to participate in the inspection, meaning their dental records and physicals are current. Unlike the phase-two ORI, much of the phase-one preparation will need to be done off-duty. "People will have to make sure they have their deployment bags in order with all the requirements included," he said. "That means packing all uniforms, the hygiene products you normally would use to get ready in the morning and any other required items." The Kennedys stressed the importance of starting to prepare inspection items now. "Most Airman battle uniforms are available right now," said Senior Master Sgt. Shevaun McRoberts, 442nd Logistics Readiness Squadron supply manager. "Members should not wait to try to get their ABUs. The more we can take care of now, the better it is all the way around." Inspection cycle "The ORI, phase one, is the continuation of the ORI, phase two that we already completed," said Col. Mark Clemons, 442nd FW commander. "Normally we would follow the normal progression for an Air Combat Command ORI by accomplishing a phase one, meaning aircraft generation and deployment, followed by a phase two - employment. "The 442nd FW chose to split the inspection up. We will continue to perform outstanding. We will prepare intensely in the upcoming months and can provide the wing a huge jump ahead of the inspectors by getting our deployment folders in immaculate shape, as well as continuing our way of excellence in maintenance and operations," he said. Sergeant Rodney Kennedy and Col. Clemons agreed that the phase-one inspection is very detail-oriented. "The inspectors will be looking through our deployment folders (formerly known as personal readiness folders) page-by-page and making sure we are completely prepared," Sergeant Rodney Kennedy said. Colonel Clemons said he is confident the wing will succeed in fine-tuning details for the upcoming inspection. "I stand confident that the outstanding men and women of the 442nd FW will succeed in an outstanding fashion as we have in the past and will continue to do in the future," he said.