Photo By 1st Lt. Heather Cozad Staley | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tanner Gill, a logistics planner with the 446th Logistics Readiness Flight reviews data planning documents in support of exercise Nexus Dawn April 29, 2021 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. NEXUS DAWN is a readiness exercise designed to test the ability of certain Air Force Reserve units to generate, employ and sustain air operations in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Cozad Staley) see less
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
NEXUS DAWN is a readiness exercise that is a collaborative effort between multiple Air Force Reserve and Guard wings designed to test units as they generate, employ and sustain air operations in a simulated austere environment. Over the course of a week, many aircraft hours are logged between more than five bases, hundreds airmen complete multiple training missions, and tons of cargo are moved. Who is responsible for planning and ensuring correct execution all of the moving pieces? The Logistics Planners.
The 446th Logistics Readiness Flight (LRF) team members use their critical thinking and data management skills to ensure the 446th Airlift Wing Reserve Citizen Airmen and their equipment arrive in the correct location on schedule so they can train as they fight during exercise NEXUS DAWN.
In the days leading up, the logistics planners collect data from exercise planners across three wings and turn it into a feasible plan. This requires communication of time sensitive info across command posts. They also finalize cargo, coordinate correct documentation and manage the joint inspection.
“Planning NEXUS DAWN has been challenging and rewarding,” said Tech Sgt. Patrick Manley, a logistics planner assigned to the 446th LRF.
In addition to organizing the many moving pieces, the logistics planners have incorporated mitigation at every step. Following force protection guidance, local and CDC policies, they have ensured safety for all participants and the public in accordance with all laws and regulations.
“COVID-19 has allowed us to flex our logistics prowess,” said Manley. “We have adapted by changing how we move people.”
Pre-screening procedures for participants including temperature checks were enacted and adjustments were made to ensure appropriate social distancing requirements were met for pre-flight holding, and ground and air transportation of participants.
“Working in an operationally-limited environment has given us insight into what we can control and what we can’t,” said Staff Sgt. Tanner Gill, 446th LRF logistics planner. “We are better prepared to succeed the next time we do this as an exercise or in the real world.”
Exercises such as NEXUS DAWN couldn’t exist without the expertise and labor of unsung heroes like Manley, Gill, and the team of logistics planners.
