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Exercises promote Tinker readiness

  • Published
  • By Howdy Stout
  • Tinker Public Affairs
Tinker AFB Okla. --  Airmen of the 72nd Medical Group went through the motions of rapid deployment last week in preparation for the upcoming Operational Readiness Inspection in November.

Six units from the 72nd Air Base Wing took part in the two-day exercise with inspectors checking personal equipment and deployment folders, giving tips and criticisms for successful deployments. Several more exercises are scheduled before November.

"We're trying to make this as unobtrusive as possible but give unit commanders a better sense of how well their people are at deploying," explained exercise controller Paul Logan.
During this exercise, units were tasked with deploying 61 Airmen in a theoretical short-notice deployment. The Airmen were required to have their personal gear and deployment folders ready for inspection. Simulated orders requested a certain number of Airmen be deployed with the involved units selecting individual airmen to fill those slots. Participating units included the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, the 72nd Comptroller Squadron, the 72nd Force Support Squadron and the 72nd Operational Support Squadron.

"I've done this before," said Master Sgt. Sheila Dejournett of the 72nd Medical Group. In fact, Sergeant Dejournett recently returned from deployment. For the inspection, her gear was packed neatly in zip lock plastic bags to protect it from rain and other hazards.

"Liquids go in a bag so when they get smooshed they don't leak all over your gear," she says with a knowing smile.

"These guys have the basic requirements for deployment to any location," said Master Sgt. Wayne Potter, flight chief and readiness inspector for the 72nd Medical Support Squadron. And he should know, having also recently returned from deployment just days before the exercise.

"Yesterday was my first day back," he said.

Having worked readiness for a number of years, Sergeant Potter said the benefit of these exercises is that everyone knows what is needed for an actual deployment.

"We're operating like this to make sure everybody has the equipment needed for deployment," he said. "When it's their time to go, they're better prepared."

Most actual deployments, however, are not short notice, Sergeant Potter added, which allows for Just in Time training to meet certain deployment requirements. Because most training requires periodic retraining to remain qualified, Airmen are trained only when tasked for deployment.

Airmen from the 72nd will undergo further exercises in August at the Glenwood training area, with simulated attacks under field conditions. Members of the 72nd held joint exercises there in June.

"We'll duplicate that again in August," said 2nd Lt. Russell Ramsey of the 72nd Medical Support Squadron.