Offutt Oktoberfest THIS WEEKEND

55 WG ORI: What is it? How to be Prepared!

Note: I am not involved in the ORI, my information is based on prior experience and discussions with members of the 55th Wing.

From about September 10th-16th, Offutt AFB's host unit, the 55th Wing, will be in the midst of their ORI.

"What is an ORI?"

An ORI is an Operational Readiness Inspection. Many of you might have been involved in them yourselves, or your spouses might have been involved at other assignments, typically with flying or other more actively combat-ready units.

A team comes in from a separate base and evaluates how combat-ready the wing is. They'll assess a variety of things, from medical readiness, to disaster preparedness, to how quickly the wing can mobilize for a terrorist event.

"How does it impact me? Will my spouse be involved?"

Chances are, if you or your spouse works for AFWA, he/she will NOT be involved. AFWA is a tenant unit, meaning their responsibilities aren't directly associated with the flying mission at Offutt.

However, please keep your eyes/ears open for announcements regarding changes in traffic patterns and base services' closures during the ORI dates. ORIs typically will have events running 24-hours-per-day, and if they're exercising higher Force Protection Conditions, the gate lines could get very long, and parking near the commissary, BX and fitness center could be difficult as they barricade parking spaces nearest to the buildings.