Wolf Pack heads for Yokota as Kunsan takes on NEO, ORI evacuation exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --    It's official: The 2007 Operational Readiness Inspection for the 8th Fighter Wing has begun. 

  On March 6, the Wolf Pack accepted, processed and evacuated Department of Defense civilians and 8th Fighter Wing members to Yokota AB, Japan, as part of the non-combatant evacuation operation, or NEO. 

  Compared to NEO operations in the past, this evacuation was an evaluation, and the first time Pacific Air Forces inspectors were on hand to grade Wolf Pack members since 2005. 

  For most on the flightline turning wrenches and launching F-16s, they wouldn't have thought twice about the major PACAF inspection at the Hammerhead gate, the fitness and sports center and the Loring Club. But even though Airmen didn't 'MOPP' up or hear a bugle call, the ORI, according to Col. Jeff 'Wolf' Lofgren, 8th Fighter Wing commander, has officially kicked off. 

  "The (inspector general) inspectors saw the Wolf Pack in classic form," the Wolf said. "They were very impressed from the time people entered the gate to the time they were transferred over to (the 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron). We all worked together as a team to process them expeditiously; all the injects we received we handled very efficiently. It was an outstanding effort." 

  The day began with a 7 a.m. recall, with unit control centers already stood up. Once the 'non-combatants' arrived, 8th Security Forces Squadron members escorted them to NEO wardens who help to process them at the Loring Club. 

  Later, 8th LRS drivers transported them via bus to base operations where they were loaded onto an awaiting C-130 Hercules aircraft bound for the Japanese base. Those members returned to Kunsan the nightof March 7. 

  Maj. Nick Avlonitis, PACAF chief of mission support inspections, said Kunsan seems to meet the needs of non-combatants. 

  "Kunsan has a really efficient process," the major stated. "The base did a good job on accountability as well as security. The base did as well as it could in the scenario."
When asked what the major would say to a US citizen if asked about how well the Wolf Pack could evacuate them, he said he would feel comfortable telling them the base is ready. 

  "I'd let them know we'd do anything they needed to expedite a safe return to the US," he said. 

  When asked what one comment stood out in his mind from the PACAF inspectors, Col. Lofgren said he was happy to hear how great an attitude everyone had. 

  "It was good to hear people were fired up to do a good job, which is the impression they left with," the Wolf said. "One of the keys to success is having a good attitude going into the ORI."