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Reserve Wing prepares for December ORI

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
About 400 members of the 908th Airlift Wing gathered at Maxwell's Blue Thunder training facility this week to participate in "Patriot Thunder."

The wing has an Operational Readiness Inspection scheduled for December, and the Patriot Thunder exercise was part of an Operational Readiness Training Program which ran from April 23 through April 30.

On Tuesday, Col. Brett Clark, 908th AW commander, said the exercise was "going good," and he was very impressed with the people involved.

"I'm very encouraged by the effort and attitude of those engaged, and the incredible realism of this exercise," he said. "We are using a phenomenal facility, and cooperation from the 42nd Air Base Wing and Air University has helped us put together a very realistic exercise."

Lt. Col. Jerry Lobb, 908th Public Affairs director, said the ORTP is being used to prepare for the up-coming ORI and to better prepare the 908th for its mission objectives.
"We want to be sure we are ready to carry out our wartime mission as an airlift wing that will support the fighting force," he said.

Colonel Clark said the exercise involved "worst-case" scenarios to help make the wing ready for real-world combat missions. He said this was his first ORTP and ORI as a wing commander, and that is a "humbling experience." His responsibilities as a wing commander are greatly different from his duties in the past, and he wanted to stress and challenge the wing to its limits.

"Step by step we have been ramping up to this exercise for the up-coming ORI," Colonel Clark said. "It provides us with the opportunity for a critical assessment of our combat capabilities."

The colonel said the wing wanted to "maximize the training" while putting on the ORTP, as it provided a variety of training opportunities that will help the 908th AW prepare for war-time missions

"I also want to thank my people, and all other base members who helped with the exercise, for the work they have did. I can't emphasize how much I appreciate that," he said. "Under some incredibly uncomfortable situations, everyone performed with smiles on their face. I want to thank all of you for that."