JMC makes mock deployment possible

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Zachary Perras
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Eielson Air Force Base initiated simulated deployment processing at the Joint Mobility Complex Dec. 14 during an Operational Readiness Exercise.

In a real-world event, deployment processing is carried out to help mobilized Airmen take care of last minute preparations.

"It is a wartime requirement and they need to be prepared to go in a moment's notice," said Tim Donovan, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron installation deployment officer.

Upon arriving at the JMC, more than 20 Airmen stepped off a bus to collect deployment gear and begin initial processing. Throughout the procedure, the facility staff corrected and confirmed deployment checklists. Before completing all stations, Airmen also took care of personal matters such as financial affairs and family obligations.

However, this type of processing leads to many units on base being undermanned, Donovan said.

"We are losing forces, so there are going to be work centers that are not manned as normal," he said. "But the mission goes on and we'll get it done."

In order to complete the mission, events such as OREs are necessary for successfully preparing Eielson's forces, said Lt. Col. Michael Richardson, 354th Operations Group deputy commander.

Richardson said good practice lets Airmen execute tasks successfully, and this exercise is good practice not only for those going down range, but for everyone on base.

Richardson also emphasized how Eielson's mission and capability to prepare, deploy and enable the staging of forces tie into the Air Force's mission as a whole.

"As one of the pillars and core capabilities of the Air Force, we can not only project power, but also project personnel and then project that power anywhere around the globe rapidly, accurately and proficiently," said Richardson.

To support all efforts down range, these mock deployment exercises ensure that Eielson will be ready to quickly and effectively move to action at any instant.