Command post bugs out

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Jami K Lancette | Senior Airman Craig Hulsey, 434th Air Refueling Wing command post controller, and Senior Airman Jesse Crow, 434th ARW command post controller adjust a satellite during a bug-out exercise here July 8, 2017. The exercise allows command post staff to gain experience in setting up an alternate command post location during a crisis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette)  

GRISSOM AIR FORCE BASE, INDIANA, UNITED STATES

08.07.2017

Courtesy Story

434th Air Refueling Wing

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Often seen as the nucleus of a base, command post Airmen have a mission that must run 24/7, and when a situation occurs that puts that in jeopardy those Airmen make big moves to keep that mission going.

In order to ensure readiness, the 434th Air Refueling Wing command post conducted its semi-annual bug-out exercise here July 8 to keep Airmen on their toes and the mission moving.

“Those of us who have been around for a while have had to bug-out at times and go to our provisional command post or a site where we have nothing,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jeffrey Withrow, 434th Air Refueling Wing command and control superintendent. “So the purpose of what we’re trying to do here is train our Airmen for a bug-out scenario; you show up at your alternate location and have nothing.

“Our communications squadron is there to help us set up a provisional command post,” said Withrow. “Airmen need to know what kinds of [equipment] they need to carry from their primary post; a lot of the younger Airmen don’t realize what they need until they are missing it,” said Withrow.

Typically, the secondary location would be the go-to for a bug-out situation, however in this scenario command post had a mobile alternative, explained Withrow.

“What they are used to is bugging out from our primary location and going to our secondary location across base which is a mirror image of the primary,” said Withrow. “However the purpose of this particular exercise is to build one from scratch.”

Real world or exercise, when bug-outs occur command post cannot waste much time and cannot lose their communication efforts as the transition takes place.

“We can never stop command and control; we have to have our radios, talk to the pilots in the air and have all of our phones and computers set up,” said Tech Sgt. Milita Hopkins, 434th ARW command post craftsman. “Everything we have in the main command post we have in our trailer; that is a true bug-out.”

Hopkins also added the fact that even during a transition to their trailer, depending on the situation, someone will be utilizing a secure room or vehicle to communicate.

During the transition controllers are setting up communication towers, satellites and wiring the mobile command post getting the most out of their temporary home.

Once set up, their command post trailer is as fully functioning as their primary, only leg room might be an issue, explained Withrow.

“It gets them used to working in a different environment too; our primary location is pretty spacious so working in this trailer is pretty tight and small,” said Withrow. “One of the issues that they will see is paper management, keeping up with all of their checklists and notes and keeping it organized.

“It’s going to be different for them; it’s supposed to challenge them,” Withrow added.

Experiencing the challenge first-hand, one Airman went into his first
bug-out with open eyes.

“It’s been a good experience, seeing and working with something different,” said Senior Airman Andrew Zinola, 434th ARW command post controller. “I really got familiar with how this whole process works just in case a real world scenario happens.”

These exercises recently paid off when their skills were put to the test during a real-world disaster and forced to go on the move.

“What we’re doing is recreating what happened a couple of years ago,” said Hopkins. “We had a pipe bust in our primary location in the middle of winter and had to evacuate.”

Withrow also recalled the real world evacuation and what it took to handle the scenario.

“It was in the dead of winter and we were out digging holes in the snow to set up our communication towers,” said Withrow.

With the continued exercises and proper handling of a real-world situation, Grissom’s command post has grabbed the attention of others.

“The last time Air Force Reserve Command visited us they said that they considered Grissom to be the crown jewel of AFRC command posts,” said Withrow. “One of the reasons we do so well in everything that we do is Sgt. Hopkins and myself continually push these Airmen and challenge them.

“I think that we raise better command post controllers then other organizations do because we do realistic hands on training,” Withrow added.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

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• Date Taken: 08.07.2017
• Date Posted: 01.30.2018 13:21
• Story ID: 263914
• Location: GRISSOM AIR FORCE BASE, INDIANA, US