Vance ORI takes off!

  • Published
  • By Frank McIntyre
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The Air Education and Training Command's Operational Readiness Inspection of Vance Air Force Base's flying operation started Monday with instructor pilot check rides.
The 19th Air Force six-man aircrew standardization and evaluation team, led by Col. Bernard Schwartze, will check about 10 percent of the Team Vance IP cadre before leaving today.
The results of their evaluation will be part of Vance's ORI rating, according to Lt. Col. Dave Marshall, 71st Flying Training Wing inspector general.
"The ASEV is designed to accomplish three purposes," said Maj. Jason Kiefert, 71st Operations Group standardization and evaluation officer. "The team will determine the effectiveness of our stan/eval program and instructor qualification and training programs and verify our aircrews' compliance with operational procedures and special interest items. The team then provides feedback to the commanders based on their evaluations."
IPs of all experience levels were subject to the check rides.
"We randomly select a good representation from among first assignment IPs, major weapon system IPs, Reserve IPs and Navy and Marine IPs," said Maj. Doug Antcliff, one of two T-37 IP evaluators on the team. "For this particular trip, Colonel (Bryan) Benson (71st FTW commander) asked that wing leadership, including himself, also be evaluated, so some of the approximately 35 check rides will involve squadron commanders and directors of operations."
"As of noon Wednesday, 17 IPs had been given check rides, with all 17 receiving a rating of Q1, which means the aircrew member has demonstrated desired performance and knowledge of procedures, equipment and directives," Major Kiefert said. "One of the 17, Capt. Bryan Griffith, 25th Flying Training Squadron, received an exceptionally qualified designation which, by regulation, 'is reserved only for evaluations where the overall performance far exceeds requirements as described in mission directives and proficiency or instruction resulted in exceptionally effective and skillful mission accomplishment,' a rare accomplishment."
"From flight operations to numerous support agencies, all of Team Vance has a role in the success of these check rides," said Col. Jerry Siegel, 71st FTW vice commander. "Colonel Benson and I view these successful evaluations as a precursor to the success the entire base will have in the ORI that starts Sunday."