YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The 374th Airlift Wing will hold a post-Operational Readiness Inspection party on base Friday, but it might not be the celebration base leaders had planned.
Pacific Air Forces handed down an initial “satisfactory” rating in the inspection, which ended a week ago, officials said. A final report isn’t due for several weeks.
The overall grade was based on a standard five-tier evaluation system used by the Air Force, which delivers marks for outstanding, excellent, satisfactory, marginal and unsatisfactory efforts. Outstanding team and individual performers also were identified.
Wing commander Col. Scott Goodwin acknowledged the wing encountered some difficulties during the inspection.
“There were instances when our communications, namely information sharing, wasn’t perfect,” he said. “We’re going to be able to take the findings … and reshape our processes for future contingencies and exercises. We must keep in mind that the inspectors not only came to test our capabilities, but they also were here to make us a better wing.”
But the “bottom line,” he said, is “the 374th Airlift Wing is fully combat-ready.”
“The men and women of the Samurai Wing passed a tough test from the PACAF inspector general,” Goodwin said. “We’ve proven that our wing is fully combat-ready and mission-capable. And furthermore, we’ve proven our combat readiness in a challenging part of the world, while our nation is at war.”
There is a sense of relief on base now that the inspection is over, he added. It originally was scheduled for February 2005 but got delayed due to Yokota’s role in tsunami-relief efforts across South Asia.
“Understand that our men and women continue to maintain this level of readiness in their everyday job,” he said. “Our dedicated airmen are responsible for maintaining peace and stability in the Western Pacific region, while supporting ongoing AEF deployments and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Yokota airmen tackled numerous scenarios during the ORI, which included the deployment and reception of forces and cargo while responding to simulated attacks.
“Our strongest point was our aircrews’ ability to execute cargo airdrops on their target within a nine-second window of the appointed time-on-target,” Goodwin said
The community gathering, scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Hangar 15, will feature free food, live entertainment and other activities for airmen and their families.
Details on the party ...Friday’s ORI After-Party is being hosted by the 374th Services Division at Yokota Air Base, Japan:
When: 2 p.m.
Where: Hangar 15
What:
¶ Free food including hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, assorted chips and soft drinks, and bottled water. Beer available for purchase.
¶ Children’s activities: Bouncy castles, clowns and face painting
¶ Live entertainment: Image Records, a popular local variety group of Yokota community members who perform country, top 40 and R&B covers. Yokota Taiko Drum Team and Okinawan Dancers from Tokyo University also will appear.
Schedule of events:
¶ 2 p.m.: Welcome remarks by 374th Services Division director Robyn Sleeth
¶ 2:05 p.m.: Welcome remarks by Col. Scott Goodwin, 374th Airlift Wing commander
¶ 2:15 p.m.: Taiko Drum Team performance
¶ 2:35 p.m.: Okinawan Dancers performance
¶ 3 p.m.: Image Records performance
Rewarded for superior performance
Yokota airmen who received coins from the Pacific Air Forces inspector general for superior individual performances during the Operational Readiness Inspection:
¶ Capt. John Simms, 374th Airlift Wing Staff Judge Advocate office
¶ Capt. Katherine Bailey, 374th Airlift Wing Plans and Programs
¶ 2nd Lt. Allan Maughan, 459th Airlift Squadron
¶ Master Sgt. Darren Lee, 374th Airlift Wing Chapel
¶ Master Sgt. Marvin Marquez, 374th Security Forces Squadron
¶ Tech. Sgt. Phillip Ramirez, 374th Comptroller Squadron
¶ Staff Sgt. Kevin Hakoana, 374th Maintenance Squadron
¶ Staff Sgt. Christopher Pouncey, 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
¶ Senior Airman Julia Hall, 374th Civil Engineer Squadron
¶ Senior Airman David Winkfield, 374th Operational Weather Squadron
