Airmen talk about ORI results, what Satisfactory means to them

  • Published
  • By Robin DeMark
  • 4th FW Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Being prepared for air combat operations everyday takes the right team, the right attitude, and the right skills. So when the men and women of the 4th Fighter Wing received a satisfactory rating during the recent Operational Readiness Inspection, the experience proved very different for everyone.

"We finished strong, it showed the heart and spirit of this wing," said Technical Sgt. Christopher Grieve, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron, heavy equipment noncommissioned officer in charge. "Satisfactory is not a negative thing, it showed us there is room for improvement and we'll get there."

Air Combat Command's ORI rating criteria was last modified in 2007 to reflect the current operations, weapons, tactics and procedures required for today's readiness capabilities. These inspections certify combat capabilities by testing demanding standards to maintain readiness every day of every year. The 4th FW inspection areas included command and control, deployment processing, employment readiness, information operations and force protection.

According to ACC officials, when the wing received a satisfactory rating, the inspectors determined the Airmen of the 4th FW were operationally ready to meet wartime tasking even under the stress of continuous air operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This inspection set the bar ... it showed our tenacity, that we could bounce back from being behind and that we could take some blows and still come back," said Maj. Joseph Ryther, 335th Fighter Squadron, assistant director of operations. "From this point, we take what we learned and move forward from here."

One Airman compared the inspection to taking a final exam.

"I view the satisfactory as we passed, we executed and performed the task but we didn't go above and beyond," said Senior Airman Megan Deleon, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron, emergency response manager.

For others, the experience was challenge and a new beginning.

"This satisfactory is a starting point, we have a ways to go before we get where we need to be," said Staff Sergeant Wesley Rivera, 335th Fighter Squadron, assistant squadron aviation resource management.

According to ACC officials, Airmen at Seymour Johnson work hard to provide support for global operations as well as handling their home station responsibilities. They are generating aircraft that are being flown harder and aging faster than most envision. When an Airman deploys, a member of the unit must perform that job at Seymour without a replacement. This has a significant impact on home station operational tempo.
Since 2007, a typical operational wing, like the 4th FW at Seymour has about 10 to 25% of their personnel deployed at any given time. For example, the 4th FW currently has more than half of the F-15E's and approximately 700 Airman deployed supporting global operations.

Inspector General ratings are about combat capabilities. The demands of an ACC ORI scenario tested the 4th FW's ability to generate aircraft, execute combat operations, and support the mission while being harassed by simulated enemy air and ground attack.

"The 4 FW successfully demonstrated we are ready to fly, fight and win on behalf of our Nation," said Col Patrick Doherty, 4th Fighter Wing commander. "There should be no concerns or fears within the Goldsboro community about the future of Seymour. We will continue to improve our processes and generate aircraft to support deployed and home operations better than ever."

To hear what many other Airmen across the 4th FW said about their ORI experience, visit the Seymour Johnson Web site "ORI 2010 Man on the Street" video link at www.seymourjohnson.af.mil.