Ramstein prepares for next ORE

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Dick
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Members of Team Ramstein will soon be testing their deployment readiness and capabilities in the May operational readiness exercise.

Scheduled May 17 through 24, the exercise will examine more in-depth procedures to prepare for the upcoming operational readiness inspection.

Through the December exercises, Team Ramstein developed their deployment processes and skills.
In the January/February exercises, those processes were tested through a simulated deployment and in an ability to survive and operate environment. Now, Ramstein Inspections and Readiness offers the following tips on what to expect in the next exercise.

"This exercise includes a new objective from the wing commander, to match the ORI as close as possible," said Maj. Michael Pontiff, Ramstein Inspections and Readiness deputy chief. "It will be the same scope, scale and timeline we expect to see during the ORI in September. Blocking off the play area and controlling access during the phase two is the most visible change from previous exercises."

Some visual differences for participants and normal base customers will be a more defined play area and transition points.

"The transition points will simply be a place to ensure players have done their buddy checks, inventory equipment and collect the most current status of the exercise," Major Pontiff said. "If your work center is far away from the transition centers, you'll be bussed into the play area. We're not allowing personal vehicles into the play area to enforce a sterile exercise environment."

Operations will begin May 17, and the defined play area will be set up by May 20. Exercise injects will "drive an escalation in the defensive posture" of the installation throughout the duration, the major said.

The May exercise will continue to integrate the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing in "deployment" operations.

"We're going to deploy the AGOW similar to the January ORE, and then we'll support their deployment with 86 AW resources," Major Pontiff said.

To prepare themselves, Team Ramstein members should make sure all of their mobility gear is serviceable and in order, review emergency procedures for their unit, talk with their unit's exercise evaluation team members if they have questions and as always review their Air Force Pamphlet 10-100 Airman's Manual.

With every exercise leading up to the inspection, participants should remember to keep a positive mindset.

"Both wings have done a lot of unit-level training since the January ORE. This is a chance to show the payoff and shine in front of the exercise evaluators," said Lt. Col. Joseph Roth, Ramstein Inspection and Readiness chief. "A good sense of urgency and a positive attitude are two key ingredients for success."

Ramstein CVI will be holding exercise briefings on the hour every hour from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 14 at the Hercules Theater here. The briefing will cover the play area, directions, parking, rules of engagement and other important exercise topics with a question and answer session.

Numerous base customer service areas will have reduced hours or be closed throughout the exercise. A full listing will be provided over the next few weeks. Check out the Kaiserslautern American and Ramstein public Web page, http://www.ramstein.af.mil, for updates.