23d LRS evaluates rapid deployment readiness

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA, UNITED STATES

12.08.2017

Story by Airman Eugene Oliver  

23rd Wing

The 23d Wing evaluated its operations, maintenance and logistic squadron’s readiness to rapidly deploy and meet the needs of combatant commanders with a week-long, Phase 1, Phase 2 exercise, Dec. 4-7, here.
As a part of the exercise, Airmen from the 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron tested their ability to inspect 30 pieces of cargo estimated at 70 tons.
“We need to always be prepared to deploy cargo promptly and efficiently,” said Staff Sgt. Mitchel Bordley, 23d LRS air terminal operations supervisor. “A unit could get called at any time to deploy and we need to ensure they have the materials they need and that it has been properly inspected.”
As part of the assessment the 23d LRS judged its ability to have strong communication within its squadron and complete the mission efficiently.
“This was a really good practice for us,” said Senior Airman Megan Morgan, 23d LRS air terminal operations specialist. “We were able to communicate with other units as far as what their responsibilities are in a deployment and inform them of what our responsibilities are as well.”
In order for a deployment to be successful a unit needs the correct gear, and all cargo must be inspected thoroughly to ensure the units have the sufficient materials to complete their mission.
“When units are ready to deploy, the Deployment Control Center will send out cargo requirements, then the units will choose the cargo that they need and it will get sent to us,” said Bordley. “Once we receive the cargo, we inspect it thoroughly and then we will personally load them unto the aircraft.”
The 23d LRS follows strict guidelines on what to inspect when cargo is brought to them for deployment.
“Cargo is essential to any deployment and we ensure that anything that will be sent to a contingent location will be inspected for air worthiness,” said Morgan.
Morgan said that having an open line of communication amongst all parties in the future is key to their unit’s success
While the exercise showed what the Airmen need to correct for the future, it also gave them the opportunity to recognize what could be expected of them and how well they could handle it.
“The biggest thing we’ve learned is what our response time could potentially be,” said Bordley. “We got flooded with a lot of cargo to inspect in [a small amount] of time and I felt we handled it smoothly and efficiently.”

• Date Taken: 12.08.2017
• Date Posted: 12.08.2017 14:17
• Story ID: 258063
• Location: MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA, US