Eielson undergoes inspection fully prepared

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  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The combined operational readiness inspection with the 354th Fighter Wing and the 168th Air Refueling Wing began Monday and ends today. Both wings worked together to prove they are expeditionary combat ready to execute operations as a total force team.

Airmen from the Iceman and Guardian wings began the exercise inspection the morning of May 17, with an intense, short-notice deployment process to deter hostilities, defend host national sovereignty, and maintain regional stability in the Pacific region.

In preparation for this combined inspection, Eielson's Inspector General team collaborated over the past year to prepare and execute a series of operational readiness exercises.

"The intent is to showcase the capabilities of Eielson's active duty and Alaska Air National Guard communities against the backdrop of shared wartime missions, to include deployment of outbound forces, reception of inbound forces, and home-station tanker air bridge operations," said Lt. Col. Scott McCreedy, 354th Fighter Wing Inspector General.

From the first day of the inspection, realistic situations increased security measures, which helped Airmen respond and react to threats while also allowing them to accomplish the mission objectives.

"We wanted to push the wing to their limits during our exercises so that when the four-star called upon us, he knew what the Guardians of the Last Frontier could provide to crush the enemy," said Lt. Col. Timothy Trefts, 168th Air Refueling Wing Chief of Wing Plans.

Today's events test the Airmen's ability to survive and operate once in the deployed environment, which includes enduring simulated chemical and bomb attacks.

"The ORI is our report card of readiness; our Airmen have prepared themselves physically, mentally and emotionally for inspection," said Col. Scott Wenke, 168th Air Refueling Wing Commander. "This week, we charged the mountain."

Airmen with both wings have simulated launching aircraft sorties and deploying cargo and Airmen to a forward operating base, while also responding to other events on base. Despite simulated infrastructure fires, multiple information phishing attempts, intruders to the base and real weather conditions, Airmen did not miss a beat and the operational mission was completed every day.

"The 354th Fighter Wing and 168th Air Refueling Wing are a total force team, postured with highly-trained professionals and reliable assets when called upon to defend national interests," said Brig. Gen. Jim Post, 354th Fighter Wing commander. "We are capable of responding to a full spectrum of challenges and during the ORI, those long hours of training and practice proved to pay great dividends. Col Wenke and I are proud to lead such outstanding Airmen and have the utmost confidence that when we are called to serve our nation, Team Eielson will be leading that charge."