MAR 29, 2024 JLM 72°F 04:20 PM 09:20 AM EST
From the Israeli Air Force: One Step Ahead

If war were to break out today, would we be prepared? This question was asked at Palmachim AFB over the past week, as its service members proved that the answer is "yes". An Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) is essentially a base-wide "war week" that puts it to the test and determines whether its units, personnel, and operational platforms are prepared for war

When I arrived at Palmachim this week, there was a feeling in the air similar to the base's atmosphere last May, during Operation "Guardian of the Walls". I was denied entry to the base at first due to a "Hot Hammer" lockdown, which is activated when a terrorist infiltrates the base's confines. When the restriction was lifted and I was able to enter, I could hardly make it to one of the squadrons before a Code Red siren was sounded and we rushed to the nearest shelter. During the entire week, the units filled with reserves personnel and work shifts doubled to manage a multi-front aerial war.

The ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection) takes place roughly once every five years. The service members describe it as an opportunity to self-evaluate to ask the important question - if a war broke out today, would we be prepared? "Over the weekend we received intelligence about tensions rising in the southern region. We were aware that it was part of the inspection, but there was still plenty of uncertainty regarding the challenges that would be thrown our way", shared Lt. Col. O, commander of the flight department at Palmachim AFB. "The situation escalated quickly into an operation in Gaza. As the week went on, the northern arena and West Bank entered the equation, and the operation developed into a war on multiple fronts".

Routine, Emergency, Combat

For many of the people on base, the events bring them back to operation "Guardian of the Walls". The transport helicopter squadrons, however, were never fully activated during the operation. "The core of the transport division's mission is related to ground troop support", explains Maj. A, Deputy Commander of the 124th ("Rolling Sword") Squadron. In 'Guardian of the Walls' there was talk about a ground entrance that would act as a significant turning point in the fighting, though the operation remained strictly aerial so ground support missions were never necessary. "The scenarios that we faced during the ORI were built to evaluate our performance in every aspect of combat. The part of the inspection simulated a ground force maneuver that required close cooperation between the troops and transport helicopter squadrons". For that reason, the base joined the IDF's 36th Division in its current war-simulation exercise taking place in northern Israel.

Three words are typically used to describe the IDF's activity - routine, emergency, and combat. In operational readiness inspections, as in any real-time situation, many significant transitions occur - from routine to emergency, and then from managing an emergency to operating a full-blown war. "The most challenging moments in most wars are the first 24 hours", says Lt. Eden, an operations officer in the 166th ("Fire Birds") Squadron. "These are the critical hours during which we must quickly and efficiently shift into a higher gear".

 
"Before the practical inspection, we underwent a course of action evaluation", she said. "The inspectors review our operational literature and check the command room doctrines for every scenario". In the military, when the outcome can feel more accentuated than the process, it is important to ensure that the service members don't forget the foundations and theoretical side of every action.


Until Next Time

"It is often said that the next war will be different from the previous ones", said Command Sgt. Maj. R, who is an external operator in the 161st ("Black Snake") Squadron. "We constantly ask ourselves how it will play out and how prepared we will be to face the enemy's advancement in such a dynamic region".

"I must admit that I was surprised", shares Lt. Col. Ariella, Commander of the Palmachim Management Squadron. "The department that plans the scenarios is under our management and is familiar with all of the bases week points. The goal is to challenge the base in ways that they might not expect". While the base's personnel are busy in operation, the management squadron deals with everything regarding the service members. If a missile were to hit the dining room or the living area, they would have to find an alternative place for the service members to eat and sleep. "It feels good to see the impact of our work and to know that if something were to happen, we'd know how to act".

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Comments
Susan Medrano 15:14 20.11.2021
Wow! God bless you all, IDF & then we cover you in prayer! Ps 122:6
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