ORI validates wing's readiness

  • Published
  • By Sandra Henry
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Images flashed across the screen, upbeat music played, and an air of anticipation filled Spectre Hall July 14 as the "evaluated" quietly took their seats.

The evaluated were members of the 919th Special Operations Wing, most of whom had simulated deployment to a "remote" base here at Duke Field. They were in the theater to hear the Inspector General results of the July 5-11 Operational Readiness Inspection.

ORIs are conducted to evaluate the ability of units with a wartime or contingency mission to perform assigned operational missions, said Maj. Raymond Porrata, 919th SOW performance planner. The five-tier rating system consists of outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory for the major graded areas.

The Air Force Special Operations Command IG gave the wing an overall "Excellent" for their efforts and recognized several members for their professional performance.

Some might say the wing got lucky, said Col. David Harris, AFSOC IG.

"I choose to believe the harder you work, the luckier you get," he said.

"Divot (referring to Maj. Kevin Nicholson) was a fantastic warlord," he added.

Brig. Gen. Frank Padilla, mobilization assistant to the AFSOC commander, was at the briefing to congratulate the wing.

"AFSOC leadership is proud of what we are doing," said the general. "It doesn't come by luck. We make our luck."

Col. Kenneth Ray, interim wing commander, was the final speaker at the briefing.

"We demonstrated to both of our MAJCOMs (AFSOC and Air Force Reserve Command) that we are ready for the fight," he said.

Col. Mark Kyle, former wing commander, sent a congratulatory note to the wing for its awesome efforts.

"Your hard work was evident to the inspectors as is reflected in the report," he said. "I can't tell you how proud I am. The 919th continues to set the bar high."

As wing members and the IG filed out of Spectre Hall, Major Porrata had a smile on his face as he summed up the past few weeks.

"People worked hours on end to provide the ORI team with everything they needed before, during and after the inspection," he said. "It proves once again that the 919th can put their differences aside, work as a team, and achieve a common goal -- to demonstrate to AFSOC that we have what it takes to take the war to the enemy and succeed."