One wing, one fight: Fightin' 55th prepares for ORI

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Danielle Grannan
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The 55th Wing demonstrated their combat warrior skills during a Combat Rodeo Sept. 3 at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility and showed off their motivation and level of preparation for the wing's upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection. 

Teams of eight from each group within the wing competed against each other in activities such as self aid buddy care challenges, personal chemical protection or "MOPP" gear relay races and weapons stripping and handling. 

This is one of many activities the wing has participated in over the last year to prepare for the upcoming inspection. 

The base has been getting ready for this for a year now, said Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander. Offutt Airmen know what's going to be on the test, know the answers and now just has to prove it, he added. 

Events in the Combat Rodeo were designed to test the skills Airmen will need during the upcoming inspection to earn the overall grade of outstanding that the wing is looking for. 

The initial event was a self-aid and buddy care where teams of five attended to a fallen Wingman. Injuries ranged from sucking chest wounds to arterial bleeds and missing eyes. The teams had to assess the injuries, treat the most serious wounds first, stabilize the patient and then transport him or her to the other side of the playing field on a litter. 

The second event was the MOPP gear relay race. All members of each team had to respond to alarm signals by donning their MOPP gear. They then performed "buddy checks" to ensure everyone was wearing their protective suit correctly and ran to the other side of the play area where more buddy checks were performed. The faster each team made it back to their original starting point, the more points they received. 

Other events in the Combat Rodeo included post-attack reconnaissance sweeps, where teams had to search the surrounding area for signs of chemical and unexploded ordinance after a simulated attack, and weapons stripping,  and compete for the fastest time to disassemble and reassemble an M-16 rifle. 

Military and civilian members of each group came out to show their support for their teams, and chants and cheers could be heard ringing throughout the hangar. But the audience was reminded that they were also there as one team. 

"One team... One fight," seemed to be the motto of choice for Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Sirois, 55th Wing command chief. She was a constant presence leading the entire wing in the refrain "one team, one fight" and "Fightin' 55th, leads the fight!" 

At the end of the day, the results were as follows: Third place was the Communications Group, second place was the Medical Group and first place was the Operations Group.