Inspection Preparation: Readying for Deployment

  • Published
  • By Jerry Chandler
  • Installation Deployment Officer
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  As Air Force Global Strike Command members, we all take an oath and promise we "will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." For decades we have been at war in the Middle East, for example Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Sometime in your career you might be tasked to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. But ask yourself, "What can I do to prepare myself to be ready at a moments notice to deploy?" As your IDO, here are a few tips and things to take into consideration when tasked to deploy:
  • Know your AEF Indicator/Tempo Band. This information can be found on virtual MPF. It is important to know when you are vulnerable for deployment. This way you can plan accordingly for any educational classes or training, or planned leave with friends and family.
     
  • Legal Affairs. Before any member deploys, make sure to have all legal affairs in order. (e.g Power of Attorney, will, financial arrangements, vRED, SGLI). While deployed, make sure any issue(s) can be handled and/or financial arrangements are managed while you are gone. In addition, a will and life insurance is very beneficial. If anything were to happen to you while you're deployed, you want to make sure those left behind are taken care of.
     
  • Personal Readiness Folders/Tier 2A Training. Most individuals have a PRF with their Unit Deployment Manager. All PRFs are required to be standardized IAW AFI 10-403, Deployment Planning and Execution, and Malmstrom Installation Deployment Plan. One section in your PRF includes all "Readiness Requirements." This includes your Tier 2A Training (e.g. Information Protection, LOAC, SABC, CBRN, etc.). Most of the courses required can be found on Advance Distributed Learning System. To get a complete list of Tier 2A, see your Unit Training Manager.
     
  •  Be Fit-To-Fight. Being in good shape is part of our Air Force lifestyle, but being fit-to-fight does not ONLY mean "physically" fit, it also ties to being "mentally" fit. We all take responsibility to stay fit, whether it's to do better on our Physical Fitness Assessment Test or to feel better on the outside. Having a routine and pushing your body through strenuous workouts will help you to handle the amount of stress or heavy demands that our bodies go through. For example, you might be deployed and required to wear 60-80 pounds of Individual Body Armor, a M16 and a ruck-sack (roughly 40-60 lbs). In order to keep up with the tempo, your troops and your mission...you will need to be in good physical shape. In addition to being physically fit, studies have shown individuals who work out have more energy, sleep better at night and experience an increase in overall mental well-being. The types of stressors one is likely to experience can accumulate exponentially. Being away from family and having to deal with the fast pace/rhythm can be stressful.

Being prepared in advance will not only help your future Combat Commander, but it will help you eliminate last minute requirements. Individuals can be tasked with three to six months notice, some with a week notice. With additional duties and personal affairs, it is easy for all of us to forget what our mission is as a member of the armed forces. We all need to remember that we are all defending our country and fighting operations overseas.