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Readiness squadron preps wing for ORI

  • Published
  • By Steve Berry
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  With the wing in its final countdown before the March Operational Readiness Inspection, the microscope is focused on the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron, which is a key organization in preparing "Combat-Ready Airmen."

Lt. Col. Timothy Gillaspie, 375th LRS commander, said his squadron handles all the training associated with the "mobility machine."

For instance, they train Unit Deployment Managers on personnel and cargo deployment. For the past year, his squadron scheduled and coordinated several training sessions, not just for the squadron, but also for the wing, with the help of the 375th Mission Support Group, Force Support Squadron, Security Forces Squadron, Civil Engineer Squadron and the Medical Group.

The 375th LRS also manages the flow of supplies and people on a daily basis, but their efforts have been intensified during the recent Operational Readiness Exercises and mobility exercises.

"Really it's the same thing we do for day-to-day wartime preparation, it's just on a higher intensity scale," he explained.

Stephen Eggert, Installment Deployment Officer, said the 375th LRS "ensures the wing is ready to deploy, and then if a tasking comes in, we are the function that will actually deploy whatever capability it is and send it to where it needs to go."

He said the squadron helps Airmen arrive on location with the supplies they need by managing the deployment line, cargo and Passenger Air Terminal.

Deployment exercises, such as the recent fly-away to Volk Field, Wisc., prepares Airmen for not only exercises, but real-world deployments as well.

Before deploying, these Airmen will visit another portion of the 375th LRS--the War Readiness Element.

Colonel Gillaspie said, "The WRE's role--making sure everyone has the proper equipment--is a pretty big task in and of itself. We are making sure everyone has been issued their equipment, and we have proper accountability for that equipment."

This mobility machine will be put to the test March 22-28 during the ORI conducted by the Air Mobility Command Inspector General's office. The inspection will measure, assure and validate the readiness of the 375th AMW. During the inspection the IG will evaluate the wing on how well it performs its missions during crisis situations. The wing will be inspected and rated in the following areas: initial response, employment, mission support functions and the ability to survive and operate in a wartime situation.