Exercises test mobilization process

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. David Byron
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Air Force officials will kick off a "push-pull" mobilization test March 10.

"Push-pull" is the process used to quickly access and return reservists, categorized as Pretrained Individual Manpower Airmen, back into the active-duty force to meet wartime and contingency needs. They are Individual Ready Reservists, active-duty and Reserve retirees, and standby reservists.

The push-pull exercise concept, first tested in 1983, is typically conducted every two years. In 2003, it was canceled because of real-world operations, officials said.

This year’s exercise will focus on the Individual Ready Reserve.

Individual Ready Reservists are people who have had training, served on active duty or as part of the Ready Reserve, and still have some period of military obligation remaining. These Airmen do not perform regularly scheduled training.

Unlike previous exercise cycles, a unique aspect of this year’s exercise will be the exclusive use of as many as 290 volunteers.

“The 2005 plan is to rely solely on volunteers,” said Col. Scott Frost, Air Staff personnel readiness division chief. His division handles overall exercise planning and execution.

“Using volunteers minimizes the disruption on family and individual schedules by relying on folks who not only want to participate, but who are in a position to do so,” he said. “This approach recognizes the exceptionally challenging times our Reserve forces are facing in the global war on terror, but it also preserves the Air Force's need to (test) our recall systems. We see it as a ‘win-win’ situation for the Air Force and the member.”

The exercise consists of two phases.

The first phase, March 10 to 15, will focus on crisis-action planning, developing notional shortfall requirements and preparing to receive activated IRR Airmen at exercise locations. This phase is added to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff exercise “Positive Force,” which tests command post and crisis-action planning procedures.

The second phase will run April 18 to 30 and begins with the “push” aspect, scheduled to last six days.

During the push, the volunteers will be activated and ordered to report to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Once there, they will be checked for skill and medical qualifications. They will also go through uniform issue and records review, and other tasks necessary to re-enter the active force.

After the push is complete, the pull aspect begins.

Seventy of the volunteers will be sent to an active-duty base where they will be absorbed into an active unit, then separated and returned home, completing the exercise.

None of the exercise participants will travel overseas, officials said.

IRR (Airmen) participating in both the push and pull aspects will be activated for a maximum of 13 days and will receive active-duty pay and entitlements. Volunteers participating in the push portion only will be activated and paid for a period lasting no more than six days.