Air Force gears up for operational readiness exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lauren Main
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Members of Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Hawaii will be participating in an operational readiness exercise from March 1-6.

The week long exercise is the first for 2011 and is set to test Airmen and Sailors ability to survive and operate in simulated wartime contingencies while fulfilling their primary duty; defending the base.

"We are having this exercise to validate the joint base construct", said John Tauber, joint exercise and evaluations training team chief. "If for any reason we should have to deploy our people down range, we would seek support from joint base. Therefore, we need to make sure this works correctly."

During the exercise, a simulation of the deployment of aircraft, cargo and Airmen will take place. There will also be a table top exercise in which the 15th Wing will be tested on their ability to receive forces and non-combatant evacuees. Throughout the exercise the wings capability to deploy personnel and aircraft and fly from a simulated deployed location will be evaluated.

Although this exercise puts these concepts into action, the men and women of the 15th Wing are always ready to deploy and serve when they are called upon.

During this time businesses and services are subject to change. The following businesses will be affected:

FSS Military Personnel Flight, Manpower Office's Installation Personnel Readiness Section and the ISOPREP Office will be closed on the 2-4 of March.

FSS Warfighter and Family Center, Force Development Flight and the Civilian Personnel Flight will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from the 2-4 of March.

The FSS Military Personnel Customer Service will be open for service regarding ID cards only from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from the 2-4 of March.

The flight kitchen, dining facility and fitness center will remain open with normal business hours throughout the exercise.

The child development center will have extended hours from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 2-4.