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Team preps servicemembers for forward locations

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clark Staehle
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Almost everyone in the Air Force deploys to one place or another at some point in his or her career. Getting each Airman to the right place at the right time can take a huge amount of coordination and teamwork on everyone's part.

Many units and missions come together to help ensure the smoothest transition possible into a deployed location.

At this deployed location, units such as the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron and the Personnel Support for Contingency Operations, or PERSCO, team all play integral roles in the arrival of each Airman who will be moving on to a forward deployed location.

379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron

The specialists in the 379th ELRS make sure Airmen passing through here receive the equipment they need for their deployment up range, from bullet-proof vests to first-aid kits and more.

"We issue all transient personnel their C bags, chem gear, cold-weather gear ... anything and everything," said Staff Sgt. Travis Taylor, 379th ELRS Expeditionary Theater Distribution Center.  "First, we reposition all the assets here so the customers don't have to bring it with them and carry that extra load, and second, we save enormous amounts of money.  In the past year alone, we've saved the Air Force more than $17 million just by having gear prepositioned here."

"Even though it may sound like a boring job, this is stuff that could save someone's life," the sergeant said.

379th Expeditionary Services Squadron

The 379th ESS has several roles transitioning air and space expeditionary force rotations. The 379th ESVS specialists help make lodging arrangements for Airmen staying here and moving on up range.

After providing servicemembers with a place to stay, the 379th ESVS has another way to help members here. The 379th ESVS reception control team members wear blue vests for easy identification.  They provide assistance to transient personnel moving forward and returning home.

"The blue vest helps us stick out so people will know where to turn for help," said Staff Sgt. Laura Fournier, 379th ESVS lodging supervisor. "We're usually out and about around the billeting tents so we're available for people who need help finding their way around the coalition compound."

8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron

During AEF rotation turnover, the 8th EAMS routes packages, baggage, people and cargo in and out of the area of responsibility and works hand in hand with several other units to get their job done.

"We provide accountability," said Tech. Sgt. Aaron Fernau, 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron NCO in charge of passenger terminal day shift. "In conjunction with PERSCO, we make sure everybody gets in-processed into the country.  That way everybody knows they're there. We work in conjunction with the local nationals, as far as customs and immigrations. We set it all up together, that way it's a one-stop shop for the (troops) coming in country."

To help handle the large number of servicemembers passing through, Airmen from other bases are tasked to augment the staff already here. This ensures there is enough manpower to get the job done through the rotation.

"There have been a couple of nights in the last week where we've moved over 2,000 people in a night," Sergeant Fernau said. "The logistics of that are hard to put into words as far as coordination and just having enough people to do it."

During a normal seven-day period, they process about 150 inbound and outbound planes and about 2,200 passengers.

379th Personnel Support for Contingency Operations team

The 379th PERSCO team is the largest in the area of responsibility. It is composed of personnelists who are responsible for briefing and processing each person who comes through, whether he or she is staying here or moving on to a forward deployed location. They provide accountability of all personnel on base and maintain 24-hour operations with two shifts.

"Basically we in-process people and we out-process them. We keep accounts on them," said Capt. Adam Avnet, PERSCO team chief.  "We do some limited personnel services, mostly we do liaison work with the home station." 
 
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