Peterson's active duty host passes ORI

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jonathan Simmons
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  After 33 days of the most robust operational readiness and unit compliance inspections in Air Force Space Command history, the 21st Space Wing emerged with a satisfactory grade.

Known as 'ORIs,' operational inspections are conducted to evaluate the ability of units to perform their wartime or contingency missions. A five-tier rating system (consisting of outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory) is used for major graded areas (consisting of initial response, employment, mission support, and ability to survive and operate) and overall wing performance.

The ORI covered the four graded areas, including initial response, employment, mission support and ability to survive and operate under crisis conditions. Initial response tested how the wing transitions from peace to wartime or contingency operations and how it deploys resources. Employment tested the wing's wartime mission performance. Mission support evaluated wing functions that support primary wartime and contingency missions. Ability to survive and operate focused on the wing's ability to meet Air Force standards for mission sustainment and mission capability restoration following an attack. The 21st SW earned a "satisfactory" grade on its ORI.

UCIs, or unit compliance inspections, are conducted to assess areas mandated by law as well as mission areas identified by senior leadership as critical or important to assess the health and performance of the organization. A three-tier grading system (consisting of in compliance, in compliance with comments, and not in
compliance) is typically used.

The UCI tested 35 areas in three broad categories of special interest items, common core compliance areas and mission areas. Special interest items are tools to focus management attention, gather data, and assess the status of specific programs and conditions in the field. The wing's SII was communications security and the Wing earned an in compliance rating. Common core compliance areas evaluated the wing's adherence to law, executive orders and Department of Defense directives. CCCAs included the voting assistance program, sexual assault prevention, and post competition contracting accountability. Mission areas tested activities identified by senior Air Force and AFSPC leadership as critical or important to assess/assure the health and performance of the wing. Mission areas included safety, fitness programs, maintenance, and civil engineering. The 21st SW earned an "in compliance with comments" grade on its UCI.

"Throughout the course of the last 33 days, I have been extremely proud of the professionalism, competence and focus of every member of the Wing stationed here at Peterson (AFB) and around the world," said Col. Jay Raymond, 21st SW commander. "Over the past year, we have worked tirelessly to ensure our programs and units were inspection ready. During this inspection the IG validated what I knew all along: we are fully prepared to do our nationally-critical mission."

The inspection involved 109 AFSPC inspectors who looked into every facet of the wing's mission at multiple sites around the world where the wing has units, to include Peterson, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo.; Thule Air Base, Greenland; Clear AFS, Alaska; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Cape Cod AFS, Mass.; Beale AFB, Calif.; Moron AB, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Socorro, N.M.; Dahlgren, Va.; and all nine locations along the Air Force Space Surveillance Fence located along the 33rd parallel of the United States.

The wing conducted inspection activities while also conducting day-to-day real-world business.

The 21st SW satisfactorily made it through both vigorous inspections, showing good stewardship to its higher headquarters and the American tax payer for the vital space superiority mission its Airmen perform from Peterson AFB and around the world. The wing's last ORI was in October 2006. 

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