Air Commandos to showcase expeditionary skills in ORI Published Nov. 5, 2010 By 27th Special Operations Public Affairs Office CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M -- Airmen of the 27th Special Operations Wing will participate in an Operational Readiness Inspection at Cannon Air Force Base beginning Nov. 8, 2010. During the inspection, Air Force Special Operations Command evaluators will ensure the wing is prepared to support global operations and U.S. interests abroad at a moment's notice. The Air Commandos have conducted multiple Operational Readiness Exercises during the past year to hone their skills in preparation for the inspection. "Outstanding" is the highest rating the wing can receive in the ORI. In the first week, or Phase I, Airmen receive a simulated deployment order and the wing prepares to deploy. In Phase II, Airmen simulate a deployed environment by performing their duties and demonstrating expeditionary skills in a tent city on base. Maj. Shane Molosky, Chief of Wing Inspections, is responsible for preparing the wing for the inspection. Overall, he said, the inspection will measure how well prepared we are to deploy with short notice and how well we do our jobs while deployed. He says he feels confident that the wing will perform well in both Phase I and Phase II, and everyone involved has high expectations. "My doubts have been erased in the past few weeks," he said, because of intense preparation and positive attitudes among Airmen. He is confident these attitudes will continue during the inspection. "Our biggest challenge will be staying motivated," he said. With only one week of downtime between the exercise last week and the ORI, the entire wing must remain focused and be ready to work hard over the next two weeks, he said. Maj. Molosky said the 27th Special Operations Communications Squadron has stood out recently, as members of the squadron have worked tirelessly to ensure communications capabilities for both the inspection team and exercise players. "We wouldn't be able to conduct the ORI without them working 24 hours per day," he said. Maj. Molosky is most impressed by how much progress has been made by a new wing with many young, inexperienced Airmen. "The amount we've been able to accomplish with limited personnel, limited experience, and limited equipment is phenomenal," he said. "If you told me nine months ago we could do this so well, I wouldn't have believed you." After the ORI, Maj. Molosky said, the wing will recognize individual Airmen and the entire wing for exceptional performance. ORI results will be published on the base website, www.cannon.af.mil, when available.