ORI

Operational Readiness Inspections

A major part of any military ship, group or station is training. We trained what to do in almost any situation, including non-situations.

After underway training, the USS Chicgo was ordered to spend the next eighteen months in the Orient. As I was a newly wed, I was transferred to shore duty to complete my enlistment at the Fleet Antiaircraft Warfare Training Center (FAAWTC - pronounced "faw-tsee").

My primary duties were setting up training missions for students (ships crews) and maintaining the computer simulation equipment. One of the secondary duties I had was, I think, one of the "most fun" jobs I have ever had. I was assigned to an ORI team. Our job was to determine the state of security, readiness, and ability to go to war.

Imagine if you can a school bus with 20-50 team members driving on to a pier next to a ship. They all jump out of the bus and run aboard that ship. The first man aboard walks up to the Officer of the Deck (OOD), sticks a finger in his face and yells, "A state of war exists! What are YOU going to do about it?" And then the "FUN" begins!

<sarcasm> The OOD looks around the quarterdeck, saunters up to the ship's loudspeakers (1MC) and says, "Hey, guys, an a ORI team is visiting our ship, and they want to know what we're going to do next" NOT! </sarcasm>

in reality, acting as if a state of war really did exist, he needs to make immediate decisions like

Do we have enough men and supplies aboard to get underway?

Should I order the burning of all classified material?'

Does the Damage Control department have enough men aboard to fight fires? to keep the ship afloat?

Do I need to call out the gun crews to fight off incoming aircraft, or to repel boarders?

Since my next action will determine the rest of my Naval career. am I wearing clean underwear?

and about 500 or so other 'Command Immediate' decisions.

Ah, yes! and then the FUN begins. I, as a Second Cless Petty Officer, am about to decide which Officer is about to get 'FIRED'!

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