Airmen review mobility folders during a deployment exercise Nov. 18, 2011 at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Exercises help prepare Airmen for real-world contingencies and help ensure personnel understand their role in the Air Force expeditionary deployment process. (U.S. Air Force/Mike McKito)
Airmen participate in a deployment exercise Nov. 18, 2011 at Sheppard Air
Force Base, Texas. Exercises help prepare Airmen for real-world contingencies and help ensure personnel understand their role in the Air Force expeditionary deployment process. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike McKito)
2/10/2012 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Team Sheppard practiced for the upcoming Air Education and Training Command Compliance Inspection with a deployment exercise Feb. 8-9.
The exercise primarily consisted of a deployment folder review with no deployment line, with each participating record undergoing a thorough review to ensure 100 percent compliance with Air Force and local guidelines. In addition to being inspectable during the upcoming CI, having individual deployment folders in order is part of being prepared to deploy.
Ensuring Airmen have accomplished everything from receiving an initial deployment notification to actually departing the base is a joint effort between the 82nd Logistics Readiness Squadron's Installation Deployment Office and the deploying member's Unit Deployment Manager.
Kimberly Kennedy, alternate Installation Deployment Officer, said the deployment mission affects everyone in a military uniform regardless of assignment.
"Everybody wearing a military uniform is deployable," said Kennedy. "If you have a deployment band, then you can be tasked and you need to ensure your records are up to date."
Kennedy stressed staying ahead of the game is the key to success when it comes to deployment folders.
"Get your affairs in order now," Kennedy said. "Accomplishing things in a timely manner now will make things a lot easier later."
"One of the most common errors is the Air Force Form 4005 (Individual Deployment Requirements Checklist) is not filled out correctly," said Steven Bennett, Sheppard's Installation Deployment Officer. "This form tracks Total Force Awareness Training and individual deployment requirements such small arms training, dog tags and other items needed for deployment."
Most Airmen are notified six to seven months in advance of a deployment; however, there are instances of less lead time prior to departure. This makes the jobs of the individual UDM's harder.
"Reviewing folders every 30-60 days is a primary job of the UDM," Bennett said. "Once an individual has actually been tasked with a deployment, the deployment folder review should be done every five days...it's critical."
The AETC Compliance Inspection is scheduled to run from April 30-May 6 for the 80th Flying Training Wing and May 7-14 for the 82nd Training Wing.
