Photo By Staff Sgt. Damien Taylor | Maj. Jon Baum, 512th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, speaks with Col. D. Scott...... read more read more
The 512th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted a pre-deployment function line for more than 30 reservists on April 2 at the 436th LRS facility here.
“Our Air Force charges us to be innovative Airmen,” said, Maj. Jon Baum, commander of the 512th LRS. “It’s our obligation to ensure we are trained and equipped to carry out the mission. We have to remain current on training and deployment organizational capabilities, because we no longer do deployment exercises or operation readiness inspections.”
The pre-deployment function line training exercise was the product of the 512th AW’s accountability to mission readiness. With only a four-hour window on during the Unit Training Assembly weekend, Baum coordinated with the 512th Force Support Squadron to perform an exercise that would identify the capability of personnel by focusing on their core tasks. Reservists of the 512th AW were tasked to attend pre-deployment briefings such as finance, legal and family support, as well as process through a mock deployment line.
With the UTA challenges of manpower, restraints and allotted time, the 512th AW had to configure a plan to meet the intent of past ORIs and operational readiness exercises said Baum.
“My answer was to break what would happen in an ORI down into bite size chunks,” said Baum. “Within the short UTA weekend, there are still many real world tasks that need to be accomplished even though training is also our responsibility. Today, we were able to test the capability of 512th FSS; tomorrow, another squadron will be tested.”
Baum said he thoroughly believes in the crawl, walk and run method.
“This is the crawl phase,” he said in reference to the exercise.
Baum also said the restraints of figuring out how to remain capable would always be there, so it wasn’t a matter of thinking outside of the box, but rather dividing the box into smaller pieces and spreading it out efficiently and over time. He signified this would give reservists the opportunity to learn beyond their desks while also increasing their confidence to perform.
“One of the goals is to ultimately build efficiency and synergy between active duty and reservists,” said Baum. “Some of the new reservists aren’t prior service. Augmenting should still be seamless.”
Airmen working the exercise appeared appreciative for the opportunity to perform in the exercise as they openly displayed their excitement to get out of the office and execute.
“I think it’s great,” said Senior Airman Samantha McFarlane, a 512th FSS personnelist. “I’m excited to be doing something different than being in the office, and I’m grateful for the hands on opportunity.”
The FSS Airmen crowded around the processing table engaging with deploying members as they processed through, and they had no issues vocalizing competency and concern to their NCOs and Senior NCOs during “hot wash” sessions. McFarlane also commended her NCOs for making the experience a smooth process, because it was the first time the 512th FSS had a processing line without support from active-duty members.
Looking forward to the future of deployment training for the 512th AW, Baum spoke about a possible supply mobility exercise in the next six months, followed by another exercise six months after that, that would involve the entire Liberty Wing.
“Ultimately, the Wing must be confident in its ability to deploy and that all parts work,” said Baum.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.06.2017 11:07 |
| Story ID: | 229367 |
| Location: | DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, DELAWARE, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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