ORE tests unit's readiness Published Nov. 27, 2013 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Practicing now prepares the 402nd Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight for the real thing later. The team honed their skills recently during an operational readiness exercise at Warrior Air Base. "Our primary mission is aircraft battle damage repair," said Capt. David Liston, 402nd EDMX flight commander. "This entire exercise revolves around how we would operate in the area of responsibility. The aircraft here are used to simulate battle damage, whether from bullets, mortars or ground mishaps." More than 25 members participated in the ORE. An EDMX team typically includes those with sheet metal, electrical and fuels experience, as well as crew chiefs and specialized engineers. The exercise allows teams to strengthen their worldwide deployment capabilities and to prepare for their wartime mission of offering a highly-trained and mobile force to rapidly assess and repair damaged aircraft to support flying operations. "The main thing is making this as realistic as possible," said Liston. "Our mission in the AOR has changed; ABDR is very specific. The expectation overseas is that instead of doing temporary repairs, we do permanent repairs on aircraft. We're trying to now design different damages on aircraft for our technicians to repair that will be closer to a permanent repair situation they will see."