GULFPORT, Miss. - Three units representing each component of the Air Force made history last month when they completed the first homeland defense operational readiness inspection. Held at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, the ORI marked the first time the Air Force validated a unit's capability to defend the homeland by fighting an enemy on U.S. soil. Like other ORIs, this one tested the ability of each unit to mobilize, fly to a remote site, defend against enemy attacks and redeploy back home. Unlike traditional ORIs, in this one participants were tasked with supporting civil authorities while fighting an unconventional foe. The 123rd Airlift Wing from Kentucky represented the Air National Guard, the 317th Airlift Group from Texas provided active-duty forces and the 70th Aerial Port Squadron from Florida contributed Air Force Reserve. The ORI was May 16 through 23. (Source: AFNS, 06/01/10)
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
AF homeland defense ORI held
GULFPORT, Miss. - Three units representing each component of the Air Force made history last month when they completed the first homeland defense operational readiness inspection. Held at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, the ORI marked the first time the Air Force validated a unit's capability to defend the homeland by fighting an enemy on U.S. soil. Like other ORIs, this one tested the ability of each unit to mobilize, fly to a remote site, defend against enemy attacks and redeploy back home. Unlike traditional ORIs, in this one participants were tasked with supporting civil authorities while fighting an unconventional foe. The 123rd Airlift Wing from Kentucky represented the Air National Guard, the 317th Airlift Group from Texas provided active-duty forces and the 70th Aerial Port Squadron from Florida contributed Air Force Reserve. The ORI was May 16 through 23. (Source: AFNS, 06/01/10)
