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OGDEN -- If you hear the sounds of war thundering from Hill Air Force Base this week, that's training for a big inspection next month. The war exercises and emergency scenarios should help Airmen and civilian personnel earn a good grade.
"One to five November: that's when we'll be hot and heavy fighting a war from Hill Air Force Base," said Col. Patrick Higby, Hill Air Force Base Commander and Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing.
The American people expect us to be able to do our war fighting mission, and this ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection) will grade us on how well we can do that.
–Hill installation commander
That first week of November, Hill Air Force Base must prove to inspectors from higher headquarters that the fighter wings are ready for action, that and everyone on base can respond to emergencies.
Team Hill must make the grade every three years, so readiness drills are critical.
The roar of fighter jets, the sounds of bombs, and the pace of preparation is uptempo at Hill Air Force Base. Airmen and civilians across the base are wrapping up the last of several Operational Readiness Exercises.
"What we're preparing for is to do our war fighting mission, and demonstrate we can do our war fighting mission from Hill Air Force Base," Higby said.
That includes everything from flying F-16 bombing sorties over the Utah Test and Training Range to taking cover in buildings on base.
It's all about teamwork. We will succeed as a team; or if one of the team members stumbles and falls, the rest of the team members will come alongside and help that team member stand back up and get back into the fight.
–Col. Patrick Higbee
#hig_quote
The Air Force Depot may face a scenario in which F-16s overseas are broken down and they have to get the right parts and personnel to those fighter jets to get them back into the fight.
"The American people expect us to be able to do our war fighting mission, and this ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection) will grade us on how well we can do that," the installation commander said.
Right now, 525 Airmen from Hill are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hundreds of inspectors will scrutinize base readiness, as Team Hill aims for the highest grade: "outstanding." If they don't get a good grade, they must improve and go through another inspection.
"It's all about teamwork," Higby said. "We will succeed as a team; or if one of the team members stumbles and falls, the rest of the team members will come alongside and help that team member stand back up and get back into the fight."
Hill officials suggest you avoid any routine business on base Nov. 1 - 5. People who live near the base may also see and hear additional flying, smoke, the sound of explosions, sirens and other activities associated with the evaluation.
"There will be all sorts of sights and sounds going on, 24 hours a day," Higby said.
The next inspection in 2013 is likely to be much different if the Air Force stays on schedule with plans to upgrade the base's fighter jets from F-16s to F-35s that same year.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
