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ORI a total force success

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Schaap
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  It's a good thing that one of the presenting inspectors, at the start of today's Operational Readiness Inspection outbrief, said displays of jubilation were "perfectly acceptable."

Because the ORI was a total force success and Col. James Vechery, 22nd Air Refueling Wing Commander, never grew tired of yelling "Team McConnell" with each accolade the outbriefers mentioned. And McConnell's team never failed to follow him with a loud "Air Power" response.

Even after the many satisfactories, excellents and outstandings were handed out, the proud outbrief crowd was at the ready for anyone to breath the words "Team McConnell."

"Air Power" they yelled when the Inspector General Team Chief, Col. Stan Dougherty, began to say he planned to tell General Arthur Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, that "Team McConnell (pause for Air Power shout) is ready to go to war anytime, anywhere on the face of the planet."

True to the total force concept behind the term "Team McConnell," the outbriefing slideshow began with the shields of the 22nd ARW and 931st Air Refueling Group standing side-by-side. Up first were remarks about the 931st's performance.

Eager to hear acknowledgement of suspected success, the crowd jumped at the first chance to applaud the IG's "Satisfactory" stamp. When the first "Excellent" of the day was announced, they were on their feet.

The outbriefers concluded the 931st ARG's evaluation with a volley of "Outstanding," the highest mark given by the IG. Group members "superbly" inspected their gas masks and "precisely" placed their chemical detection tape, an inspector read before placing the Outstanding label on the Group's Ability to Survive and Operate (more commonly called ATSO).

"Teamwork was clearly evident at all levels," he said when summarizing the 931st's overall performance.

Inspectors noted the teamwork of the Airfield Damage Repair Team from the 931st Civil Engineer Squadron. The engineers and other Airmen earned special acknowledgment near the end of the outbrief for their exceptional performance. Tech. Sgt. Chris Devoid was part of the 931st CES team recognized.

"We had three hours to fill a crater," Sergeant Devoid said. "We did it in an hour and a half and the inspectors never (had to say) a word."

The 931st's new commander, Col. Edsel "Archie" Frye Jr., sat with Colonel Vechery during the outbrief and took the microphone near its conclusion to offer his congratulations for a total force success. Colonel Frye thanked the people of the 22nd ARW for all their support.

"We don't have the infrastructure or manpower to do what we do without you," he said.

Colonel Frye thanked the people of the 931st for working their "tails off for a year" getting ready for the ORI. The inspection they just passed, he noted, was the toughest he had seen in his 31-year career.

"From my perspective, if you got a "Satisfactory" in this ORI you got an "Excellent" or "Outstanding," he said.

Group members are expected to be recognized for their ORI success during the September Unit Training Assembly, the same weekend when the 931st's annual Family Day Picnic is scheduled.