Wolf Pack set for week-long inspection

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  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
After months of preparation Airmen and Soldiers assigned to Kunsan Air Base are putting their hard work to the test this week and showing the Pacific Air Forces evaluators just what the Wolf Pack is made of. 

The 8th Fighter Wing's ability to survive and operate effectively in order to accomplish the wartime mission will be tested during the PACAF Operational Readiness Inspection Beverley Bearcat 09-03. According to Col. J.D. "Wolf" Harris, 8th FW commander, the wing is ready. 

"We are ready to showcase the outstanding efforts and capabilities of the Wolf Pack," said Colonel Harris during his twice-monthly American Forces Network Kunsan radio show. "It's time and everyone's got their game-face on." 

More than 100 evaluators with PACAF Inspector General's office began arriving at Kunsan April 15. And with approximately 60 Kunsan augmentees acting as role-players throughout the different scenarios, Colonel Harris said the two factors combine to add a sense of realism. 

"We're going to see a lot of realistic play," he said. "The inspection brings that because there's the pressure of being evaluated rather than just a training event. But then we're also going to have more realism with injured people, people that aren't in uniform or doing the right things. That's what the augmentees [will be doing]." 

Although the evaluators were already on station and had begun observing the men and women of the Wolf Pack, the inspection kicked off in earnest April 19 with an all too familiar recall. Airmen and Soldiers reported for duty ready to demonstrate their ability to defend the base, accept follow-on forces and take the fight North. 

Since summer 2008, Kunsan members completed a series of rigorous exercise in preparation for the ORI. Exercises Colonel Harris said were made intentionally hard in order to better equip the wing with the skills and knowledge required for success in the inspection. 

"I feel that we have prepared enough that I don't think it's going to be the same tempo," he said. "I think we're going to look around and say 'this isn't as bad as we thought' and I hope that that's our approach because we have trained very hard for this for the last several months and the Wolf Pack has shown that they are ready. 

"So if everything goes as planned I fully expect that we're going to look around, and that Thursday's going to get here pretty quick, and we're going to say 'not bad.'" 

During the week-long inspection Airmen and Soldiers will focus on rendering Self Aid and Buddy Care to the injured and also demonstrate their ability to complete the mission in a simulated chemical environment. The evaluators will challenge Kunsan Airmen and Soldiers to accomplish these tasks while encumbered by different levels of Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear. 

"Right now you've got one task in front of you; it's time to Airman-Up," said Colonel Harris. "We're ready, you know you're ready."