McConnell ‘Mission Ready’

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Armando A. Schwier-Morales
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Approximately 300 McConnell Airmen rose to meet Air Mobility Command's Inspector General team during an operational readiness inspection Oct. 1, 2011.

After more than 12 hours of inspections, McConnell's 300 earned a "Mission Ready" grade.

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing and the 931st Air Refueling Group joined forces to showcase their skills during 2011 ability to survive and operate ORI. The inspection simulated a hazardous deployed location.

"I am elated at the hard work that all of our Airmen put into getting ready and then during game day," said Master Sgt. Douglas Haskell, 22nd Air Refueling Wing ORI planner. "Being 'Mission Ready' shows that we are ready to deploy and defend anywhere, anytime."

The total force team worked side by side for more than 50 weeks preparing for the ATSO ORI. During the inspection, Airmen faced simulated scenarios where the base was "attacked" by missiles loaded with chemicals agents.

"Exercise, Exercise ... alarm red, MOPP 4," rang throughout the play-area and McConnell's Airmen begin to don their protective equipment.

"Even though it wasn't real - when I heard that alarm - the IG was right next to me, so I felt that feeling in my stomach that made it feel real," said Airman 1st Class Jorge Nevarez Coronado, 22nd Force Support Squadron storeroom specialist and post-attack recognizance team member. "My sweat was cold and my breathing got faster, I could feel my body filling with adrenaline so I rushed to put the gas mask on."

While Nevarez, was being inspected by IG at the ORI, other personal performed two additional command-level inspections testing McConnell's weather and air traffic control Airmen.

For the Air Traffic System Evaluation Program, inspectors determined that McConnell's air traffic system's performance surpassed expectations, while meeting standards and operational requirements.

Inspectors also evaluated the weather operations team on their processes, procedures and mission support effectiveness during the Standard Evaluation Program for Weather Operations.

Col. Ricky Rupp, 22nd ARW commander, said the Airmen showed tremendous poise and professionalism during the inspections.


"I am proud to say that McConnell's warriors didn't flinch, operated safely, maintained a great attitude and didn't stop fighting until the final whistle was blown," he said. "You exceeded my expectations."

According to the inspectors, active-duty Airmen from the 22nd ARW and reservists from the 931st ARG demonstrated their readiness to perform their mission in contingency environment as a team within the world's premier air refueling wing, delivering superior warfighter support anytime to anywhere in the world.