April Commander's View Published April 4, 2013 By Col. Paul J. Hargrove 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONALGUARD STATION, Calif. -- Welcome to April's UTA. For several months we've been working hard to prepare for this month's Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) and our scheduled October Air Mobility Command Inspector General's (AMC/IG) Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). Recently, AMC/IG provided the 146AW with some very important changes which will change the way AMC units are inspected. The format the 146AW has seen over the last twenty years has been "scenario-based"; a deployed, multi-day war game at a Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC). This format is no longer going to be used by the AMC/IG. The new format is called a Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI) and will be less scenario-based. Instead Wings will be tasked with a comprehensive inspection such as the old Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) at home station combined with an assessment of the Wing's combat readiness. The Wing's combat readiness will be assessed in a format commonly referred to as an "ATSO Rodeo" (Ability To Survive & Operate). The ATSO Rodeo format will consist of several "stations" where individuals will be asked to demonstrate key war skills. These skills will include weapon familiarization and handling procedures, M8 chemical agent detection and contamination avoidance, self-aid and buddy care (SABC) skills, Post Attack Reconnaissance (PAR) sweep procedures, and equipment inspections. 146AW Exercise Evaluation Team members will be at each station to evaluate readiness levels. Positive attitudes are extremely important in any inspection. Remember, evaluators are always looking for positive attitudes even during the stress of an exercise. Help your buddy, keep a good attitude and maintain military bearing at all times. Your commanders and supervisors will have more details for you, and Friday will provide many opportunities for last-minute training unit level preparation. I encourage you all to ask questions and become comfortable with the weekend's schedule. As always, we'll do a great job. Good luck and we'll see you at the assessment! Paul Hargrove, Col. 146th AW/CC
April Commander's View Published April 4, 2013 By Col. Paul J. Hargrove 146th Airlift Wing CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONALGUARD STATION, Calif. -- Welcome to April's UTA. For several months we've been working hard to prepare for this month's Operational Readiness Exercise (ORE) and our scheduled October Air Mobility Command Inspector General's (AMC/IG) Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). Recently, AMC/IG provided the 146AW with some very important changes which will change the way AMC units are inspected. The format the 146AW has seen over the last twenty years has been "scenario-based"; a deployed, multi-day war game at a Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC). This format is no longer going to be used by the AMC/IG. The new format is called a Unit Effectiveness Inspection (UEI) and will be less scenario-based. Instead Wings will be tasked with a comprehensive inspection such as the old Unit Compliance Inspection (UCI) at home station combined with an assessment of the Wing's combat readiness. The Wing's combat readiness will be assessed in a format commonly referred to as an "ATSO Rodeo" (Ability To Survive & Operate). The ATSO Rodeo format will consist of several "stations" where individuals will be asked to demonstrate key war skills. These skills will include weapon familiarization and handling procedures, M8 chemical agent detection and contamination avoidance, self-aid and buddy care (SABC) skills, Post Attack Reconnaissance (PAR) sweep procedures, and equipment inspections. 146AW Exercise Evaluation Team members will be at each station to evaluate readiness levels. Positive attitudes are extremely important in any inspection. Remember, evaluators are always looking for positive attitudes even during the stress of an exercise. Help your buddy, keep a good attitude and maintain military bearing at all times. Your commanders and supervisors will have more details for you, and Friday will provide many opportunities for last-minute training unit level preparation. I encourage you all to ask questions and become comfortable with the weekend's schedule. As always, we'll do a great job. Good luck and we'll see you at the assessment! Paul Hargrove, Col. 146th AW/CC