Exercise brings readiness into focus

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - More than 1,100 Citizen Airmen of the 507th Air Refueling Wing here came together for an intense five-day exercise here June 1-5 in order to evaluate the wing’s operational readiness, with emphasis on the wing’s nuclear support and deterrence mission. 

The local exercise named June Operational Exercise 16, or JOE 16, gave Citizen Airmen the opportunity to hone their skills and allowed the wing inspection team to be certified and mentored by Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command inspectors.     

This is the first exercise run by the newly-formed wing inspection team under the direction of the Inspector General Inspections office. With the AMC certification, the 507th WIT team is fully trained to lead and evaluate on future readiness exercises in house in accordance with the Air Force Inspection System.

“Our team developed the entire scenario from start to finish,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jamie Horn, 507th ARW director of exercise plans. “This exercise provides our wing the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to perform this mission in a timely and safe manner.”

The WIT team members are considered the experts in their functional areas.  The WIT team is made up of more than 60 Citizen Airmen in the unit.  They are all specially trained to provide scenarios that will provide the best training and evaluate wing members in most functional areas. 

While the exercise was integral for the WIT team to obtain certifications, the exercise also showcased the wing’s readiness. 

“These types of exercises are of the utmost importance to ensure that our wing is trained and ready on a daily basis,” said Horn.

Aspects of the exercise focused on the KC-135R aerial refueling support of U.S. Strategic Command, with focus on the wings nuclear support mission, which is vital to strategic deterrence and stability, according to USSTRATCOM officials.

Several operations were evaluated during the exercise, including maintaining aircraft, preparing aircraft for alert and immediate response, unit deployment readiness, suspicious activity, and self-aid buddy care with a large emphasis on command and control. 

The 507th ARW Command Post, Maintenance Operations Control Center and specific squadron points of contact played a significant role in ensuring the exercise was conducted smoothly and safely.   

“The Command Post is at the center of the operation,” said Master Sgt. Jason Brown, 507th ARW Command Post.  “As we receive orders from [higher headquarters] and ensure those orders are carried out. Based on HHQ directives, we notify the CAT and generated aircrews of increasing world situations."

Command post controllers along with maintenance professionals in the MOCC were tested by running numerous checklists, relaying command information, tracking aircraft, answering radio calls and phone calls and dispatching crews.

JOE 16 challenged the Reservists, and developed relationships and partnerships that allowed the wing to identify successes and shortfalls.

“We learned valuable lessons after the exercise, and now we have a way forward to improve our operations,” said Horn.   

Superior Performers for JOE 16 are, Master Sgt. Rodger Carr, 507th Maintenance Group, Tech. Sgt. Jo Delorenzi, 507th Civil Engineer Squadron, Staff Sgt. Shelby Zimmerman, 507th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Bobby Jackson, 465th Air Refueling Squadron. The superior team was the 507th Security Forces WIT team.