ORI Preparation: Total Recall Published Jan. 6, 2011 MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Total Recall is a term used to refer to the ability to have every available person present and accounted for. It's about Air Force Global Strike Command readiness. According to AFPD 10-2, Air Force readiness is defined as "the ability of USAF forces to deliver their designed outputs without unacceptable delay." The directive goes on to state that readiness "is essential for successful accomplishment of the Air Force mission." In order for Wing One to accomplish its mission and, in turn, help the Air Force achieve its mission to "deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests -- to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace," members must ensure they are present and ready to carry out the mission. All the expertise and training in the world is useless if that expert, highly-trained person is unavailable to do his or her job. So, what can be done? The answer is located in the 341st Missile Wing Instruction 10-201. The instruction entails recall procedures, a major component of readiness. Members of the military need to ensure they can be contacted and are ready to serve in the defense of the country when called. There is a system in place to ensure this can be done. Recall Rosters Always have one, or two, handy. It is essential for everyone in a unit to have an accurate and accessible recall roster. Telephone recall rosters (a.k.a. pyramid alert roster) should contain accurate phone numbers and addresses for every person in the unit (including mission-essential civilians). Most civilians don't get called during exercises, however, they are susceptible at the wing commander's discretion and need to be on the list in the event they're needed. Civilians will most assuredly be recalled during real-world incidents. Units should also be able to recall all personnel in the event of a communications outage (COMM-out). The only way to do this is to have individuals physically go to a person's house and notify him/her of the recall. For this reason, a separate COMM-out recall roster should be maintained. It is essential the names and addresses on this list be arranged by geographical location, not by rank, section, squad, etc. This is because a person will be physically going from one house to the next. It is not efficient, nor does it make sense for a person to drive from base, to flag hill, to the dorms and then to the mall area to make notifications. The pyramid alert and COMM-out rosters can be combined into one roster for simplicity, however all members must be ordered by geographic location. Also, since recall rosters have personal data on them, they must be labeled "FOUO" and contain a Privacy Act of 1974 statement. Statements During recalls, it is mandatory to read the appropriate Format Statement verbatim. These should be located somewhere in the unit's recall roster. Included in these statements is important information such as the reference hour (recall time), recall instructions and if the Battle Staff, Crisis Action Team and/or Emergency Operations Center will be formed. Recall times Why does the recall time matter? The recall time is essential for accountability purposes. Installation Personnel Readiness reports accountability data to the commander's senior staff hourly for the first three hours of a recall. Three hours may seem like a long time, but it literally flies by when trying to account for 3,500 personnel. Timeliness In order to "deliver designed output without unacceptable delay" it is imperative that recalled individuals report to their duty sections immediately and in uniform. AFPD 10-2 specifically states that the member should not "delay for personal grooming or meals." This means don't shower, don't shave and don't stop to eat or buy food--just get to your duty section promptly. Contactability Having accurate phone numbers and addresses is useless if the member isn't at home and doesn't have a cell phone. Military members should do their best to be contactable at all times. If possible, an alternate number where the unit can reach the military member during a recall should be provided to a supervisor. Above all else, use common sense. Don't go hunting, camping or out of town if you are on 6-ring alert. In Montana, even having a cell phone is no guarantee of contactability. If you are placed on 6-ring standby, you may be called in to work at a moment's notice, therefore--no consumption of alcohol. Exemptions During a real-world event, the only exemption from a recall is being deployed on a contingency tasking. For an actual recall, the wing commander may direct a recall of all personnel on leave outside of the local area, Temporary Duty or on special pass. Unit Control Centers will simulate this via various simulated messages during exercises. But, the bottom line is, if you're not on leave, TDY or in the hospital/jail and no one can reach you, then you're not considered accounted for--and, you're keeping the base from reaching it's accountability goals. Anyone with specific questions can contact their UCC or the Installation Personnel Readiness office of the 341 Force Support Squadron at 731-3837, 731-2606 or 731-2970.