Exercise, Exercise, Exercise: 4th MSG ‘prepares to deploy’

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Heather Stanton
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The 4th Mission Support Group is participating in a Phase I exercise Nov. 2-3 to prepare for real-world deployments and improve processes for efficiency.

A Phase I exercise prepares members of the wing for a deployment by getting personnel and equipment ready for loading onto an aircraft headed toward a deployed location.

"These exercises are important because it allows us to put eyes on the assets such as cargo and personal bags," said Lt. Col. Serena Armstrong, 4th MSG deputy commander. "We are going to accomplish a group recall, and focus on cargo palletizing and the processing of people."

Throughout the exercise, each squadron is responsible for ensuring their people and equipment are ready to go. But some squadrons have to fulfill additional duties during a deployment.

"The 4th Force Support Squadron will provide support to the personnel deployment facility line and processing individuals," Colonel Armstrong said. "However, the 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron bears the brunt of the Phase I process."

The 4th LRS coordinates all logistic components of a Phase I to include producing the chalks, marshalling cargo, inspecting pallets, manifesting personnel and getting the equipment and passengers to the deployed location in the required timeline. Also assisting with the cargo and equipment aspect of the exercise are the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 4th Component Maintenance Squadron, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron and 4th Operations Support Squadron.

"Our Airmen are experts at processing people to Southwest Asia," Colonel Armstrong said. "Therefore, for this exercise we selected a deployment location in the Pacific, a place we are not as familiar with."

For deploying to different locations, there are different reporting instructions and requirements. There are different assets for a bare base and different people who can set up structures.

The unit deployment manager within each unit ensures the deployers are prepared, trained and equipped to fulfill the mission abroad.

"I will be getting our personnel and cargo ready for mobilization, to include issuing gear, completing necessary documents and making sure our passengers are on time for movement," said Tech. Sgt. Tracy Christensen, 4th FSS UDM. "I will also be going through individual war wallets, giving deployment briefs, marshalling cargo and communicating to the installation deployment officer through the Logistic Module System."

Though there are exercises to help prepare the wing for deployments, it is always important to be ready in the event of a short-notice deployment.

"Being proactive is key in making the deployment process work," Sergeant Christensen said. "We all need to work together and ensure our personal and training information are always up to date."