Base goes under ORI microscope in 17 more days Published Aug. 1, 2007 By Perry Jenifer 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Keesler is about to go under the microscope of an operational readiness inspection for the first time in more than three years. Col. Ward Juedeman, chief of the inspection division of the Air Education and Training Command Inspector General, heads up a team of approximately 85 inspectors that arrives Aug. 19 for a 10-day stay. The team of officers, noncommissioned officers and civilians is charged with evaluating the 81st Training Wing's mission performance, adherence to standards and compliance with Air Force instructions. Team members rate individual units and the wing as a whole. Ratings can range from outstanding to excellent to satisfactory to marginal to unsatisfactory. For more than two decades, Keesler has received nothing less than an excellent rating overall, a tradition Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso is confident is going to be upheld. "Team Keesler has been through some extraordinary times since the last ORI in the spring of 2004," the 81st TRW commander acknowledged. "You've risen to every occasion and made opportunities out of unprecedented challenges. I see the ORI as another opportunity to tell us what we already know -- Keesler is the best of the best in AETC. "Over the course of this inspection, the AETC IG team is going to experience first-hand the get-it-done spirit and professionalism of the exceptional men and women here," the general added. In addition to mission-related performance, the inspectors also evaluate the wing's capability in a variety of contingencies. This translates into exercise scenarios that can run the gamut from deployments to major accidents. "Remember, this is your opportunity to shine," General Capasso said. "It's all about attitude, pride in what we do, and attention to detail. "We've been testing and fine-tuning our contingency capability with in-house exercises for months," he said. "I've seen how hard you've prepared for this inspection, and I'm certain the teamwork you've shown preparing for this inspection will pay us great dividends. Be confident and flexible, anticipate the curve ball, then rely on your training to get us across the finish line." The ORI concludes Aug. 28 with an outbrief at 11 a.m. in Welch Auditorium. Ratings are announced then.