Photo By Staff Sgt. Nicole Erb | Senior Airmen Huy Nguyen, left, and Master Sgt. Crystal Vallejo, chief of Personnel...... read more read more
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.-- Exercise NEXUS DAWN kicked off April 26, 2021 at eight installations around the Nation.
As Reserve Citizen Airmen flew into March Air Reserve Base, California, the 446th Force Support Squadron Airmen from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, stood ready at the passengers terminal to greet and in-process troops.
NEXUS DAWN, an exercise created to simulate real world challenges, help Airmen hone skills to deliver airpower anytime, anywhere. The exercise’s mission was to test and improve training and equipment for combat readiness of units from the Air Force Reserve, Air Force active duty, Air Air National Guard and the U.S. Marine Corps.
And, for Master Sgt. Crystal Vallejo, chief of the 446th FSS force management section, streamlining processes to complete the mission was her number one goal during the exercise.
“My role in NEXUS DAWN is to keep 100% accountability at all times on our Airmen,” Vallejo said. “PERSCO (Personnel Support for Contingency Operations) makes sure everyone is accounted for and taking care of.”
Vallejo led the PERSCO division during the exercise. In her division, PERSCO conducted in-processing and out-processing for deployed troops making sure their travel and lodging needs are met and kept track of all Reserve Citizen Airmen.
“I have never felt so proud,” said Vallejo. “My team knew what standard operation procedures to pull up automatically when fact-checking. They did all the leg work for me. We worked two shifts back-to-back in full chemical warfare gear, and we are still perky and getting things done with great efficiency.”
FSS had other responsibilities in NEXUS DAWN as well.
The 446th FSS’ Services Sustainment Flight, comprised of Citizen Airmen devoted to the morale and welfare of deployed Airmen, prepared and served meals, established a single pallet expeditionary kitchen, and set up a host of other things from beds to latrines to games.
“Without food, nobody is mission ready,” said Staff Sgt Ryan Holt, services specialist from the 446th FSS here. “We lift spirits through food, music and games.”
Holt joined the Air Force Reserve three years ago from the Navy where he was a weapons specialist.
“I love my job in FSS,” said Holt. “It’s a mix of everything that is needed everywhere so I can deploy anywhere, and the job is very well rounded.”
Holt served lunch and dinner with smiles and jokes to keep the Airmen in good spirits during Exercise NEXUS DAWN.
“Food makes everything better,” said Staff Sgt Jonathon Perez from the 452nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron at March ARB.
Through exercises like NEXUS DAWN, Reserve Citizen Airmen honed their readiness and effectiveness so they can support the nation with airpower anytime, anywhere. Exercise NEXUS DAWN occurred at multiple locations April 26-28.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2021 12:07 |
| Story ID: | 395399 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 446th FSS dishes out skills during NEXUS DAWN, by SSgt Nicole Erb, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
