Importance of proper recall procedures

  • Published
  • By 341st Force Support Squadron
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  The time was 2:46 p.m. on Friday, March 11, 2011, when an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 hit Japan. Staff Sgt. Benjamin Bulfer, 341st Force Support Squadron Installation Personnel Readiness section journeyman, a key asset during Malmstrom Air Force Base accountability recalls, was stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan, working indoors when the earthquake hit.

"The electricity lasted about 10 seconds before the lights flickered and went out," Bulfer said. "Landlines went out at the same time, and while cell phone towers had battery back-ups, they only lasted a few hours and were so overwhelmed that no one could get a call through. There's nothing like a natural disaster to test your recall procedures and capabilities. It may seem like a simple thing during an exercise to quickly run through your recall roster and gain accountability, but in a disaster like the Japan earthquake, it is not so simple, but of the utmost importance."

Every member of Wing One should be aware that at any time a recall could be initiated using the pyramid recall system, be it for an exercise or real world situation. There are six different types of recalls at Malmstrom, and no matter what type, the command post will initiate it with phone calls, emails and pop-ups. A couple of recall examples are Format 1, which requires personnel to report for duty. A Format 5 recall is used to pass on information such as delayed reporting due to weather. However, the type of recall most commonly used is the Format 3, accountability recall.

As its name implies, a Format 3 recall is used to gain accountability of personnel from a limited number, i.e. active-duty only, to all personnel including dependants and civilians. Accountability recalls generally fall into three categories, two of which are Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System driven and the third is locally initiated.

AFPAAS accountability tends to be in relation to an emergency, such as natural disaster, and is focused on a Geographic Area of Interest, i.e. Japan. If Malmstrom falls within the GAOI, individuals must go into AFPAAS and personally update their status. AFPAAS can be accessed via the Air Force Portal or by going directly to https://afpaas.af.mil. If Airmen are unable to personally update AFPAAS, then their Unit Control Center must be notified. If Malmstrom is not in the GAOI, the base usually accounts for personnel anyway to ensure no one is in the GAOI on leave or TDY. Generally, UCCs will consolidate numbers and, depending on if it is a local or AFPAAS drill, will either pass to the Installation Personnel Readiness section or unit Commanding Officer Representatives who will take further action as needed.

The following are a couple of key tips to remember. First, always have a recall roster available and know how it works, who to call and who to report to. It is important to be prepared to take notes when receiving a call as sometimes a lot of information is passed that will have to be passed on to someone else. Second, members must personally talk to the individuals they are responsible to call on the recall roster. Leaving a message with another person or an answering machine/voice mail does not constitute contact with that person. Finally, when contact information changes, ensure the unit recall roster is updated with correct addressed in addition to phone numbers. If everyone follows these tips, all units and Wing One will successfully be able to implement recalls, a crucial aspect of mission success.