In Air Force operations, what is the role of ORM?

• A. To maximize speed of execution rather than safety
• B. To replace leadership responsibilities
• C. To systematically identify and mitigate hazards to reduce risk
• D. To document performance metrics

Answer: (C)

ORM is a structured, proactive decision-making process used in Air Force operations to manage risk. Its role is to systematically identify hazards and assess the associated risk for a planned action, then develop and implement controls to reduce that risk to an acceptable level while still achieving the mission. This approach is applied during planning and execution, helping leaders compare options, weigh potential harm against mission benefits, and choose safer, effective courses of action. Core steps include identifying hazards, assessing risk, developing and implementing controls, and supervising to ensure controls remain effective.

The idea isn’t to move faster at the expense of safety, nor to replace leadership responsibilities, nor to document performance metrics as the primary aim. Instead, ORM provides a disciplined method for preventing injuries and losses by addressing risks before they become incidents, while still enabling mission success.