JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The men and women of the 89th Airlift Wing are ready to shine for their Operational Readiness Inspection, which kicks off Saturday.
"This inspection tests our ability to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment's notice," said Maj. Brian Fairweather, 89 AW plans and programs chief.
Airmen of the 89th have been perfecting their skills since last fall, and "we're ready to go!" said Col. Steve Harrison, 89 AW commander.
"While we deploy people all of the time, our current world environment requires mostly steady-state missions. This is our chance to show we can deploy as a unit if needed, and we can do it in the SAM FOX standard of perfection," he said.
Ensuring a smooth ORI doesn't happen alone, Major Fairweather said.
"We couldn't go anywhere if it wasn't for the support from our mission partners. As our hosts, we rely on them to help us get out the door," Major Fairweather said.
The 89th Airmen selected to deploy for the inspection will go through a processing line run by the 316th Logistics Readiness Squadron's deployment control center, and they will also get their medical clearance from the 79th Medical Wing.
The deployment will take the Airmen to the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Mich., where they will be joined with others from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., While in Michigan, they will be tested on their ability to survive and operate in a deployed environment.
"Now is our time to shine," Colonel Harrison said.
The Air Mobility Command inspection team officially arrives Saturday from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and the inspection is scheduled to last through Oct. 24. An official outbrief on the results is scheduled for Nov. 5.