Members gear up for Operational Readiness Exercise Published Feb. 4, 2013 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The following is the first part of a three-part series about the 94th Airlift Wing's participation in an Air Force operational readiness exercise, which will be conducted in late 2013. Selected members of the 94th Airlift Wing completed phase one of preparation for an upcoming operational readiness exercise on Jan. 6 here. This phase, the first of three, required participating Airmen to inventory and prepare equipment for shipment for a mock deployment and go through a deployment line in building 819 - recently renovated to accommodate our increased operational tempo. "From my experience, this building is very nice - everything is set up in a logical order, conducive to operating a deployment line," said Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Walter, Jr., 94th FSS superintendent. "My mission is to make sure everyone gets processed through the processing DF line to the secure area to receive their briefings. The process itself after the first chalk, had a few kinks to work out. Everyone is new to the way this works. So, it is good that we are practicing." The deployment line included representatives from the 94th Force Support Squadron, 94th Airlift Wing Airmen and Family Readiness Office, the 94th AW Finance Office, the 94th AW Legal Office, the 94th AW Chaplain's Office, 94th Traffic Management Office and 94th Aeromedical Staging Squadron. These representatives were on hand to provide services to deployers such as updating wills, getting needed shots and getting advice on family readiness or religious matters. The mock deployers were organized into groups, or chalks, and were also accountable for getting gear for palletization to a marshaling yard near the flightline. There, members of the 80th Aerial Port Squadron will inspect each pallet for shipment. "Each unit sends equipment that they will need on this simulated deployment," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Saldavar, 80th APS aerial delivery specialist. "For example, the 80th APS needs a lot of scales and moving equipment. We check each pallet for correct packaging, documentation and make sure it goes to the right location. If the package doesn't pass all of our inspections, we will return it to the user. Once the package does pass, we'll send it to flightline to be loaded onto an aircraft." During this phase of the ORE preparations, Airmen and equipment did not board aircraft. The next phase of preparations will include hand-on training with equipment, such as mission oriented protective posture gear. The last several chalks went very smoothly, according to Walter. All the bugs were worked out early. Everyone got into a rhythm and pushed people through the line efficiently and accurately. He insists the wing is definitely ready for the ORE and remains prepared for real deployments.
