"Lik" exercises in preparation for AEF 5/6

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Rose Richeson
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  More than 100 Incirlik members postured against Air Expeditionary Force 5/6 completed a readiness check as they were processed through an exercise predeployment line Dec. 13 and 14. Team Incirlik's capabilities to process personnel and cargo to a forward deployed location were given a good, hard look to ensure success and preparedness before they deploy.

"I think exercises like this are great, especially since I just received a short-notice tasker to deploy," said Staff Sgt. Oshawn Jefferson, 39th Air Base Wing public affairs chief of internal information. "Even though we're supposed to be prepared year-round, these exercises keep us prepped and ready to go."

Exercise participants were tasked by Unit Type Codes in anticipation of receiving orders to a deployed location. A notice to deploy can come down anytime with most report dates being between January and late April. AEF 5/6 deployers had outprocessing checks performed on them, annotating tasks which still need to be completed before they are ready to deploy.

Processes evaluated during the exercise ranged from the 39th Mission Support Squadron's ability to stand-up and operate a mobility processing line to the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron's ability to get personnel to their deployed locations by their report dates.

"Because of the exercise I got my deployment bags early," said Christopher Hunkel, 39th Air Base Wing historian and tasked AEF 5/6 deployer. "Fortunately, I'm prior military and have done this before but the Incirlik-specific training prepared me for what I'll face in January."

Mr. Hunkel said that his total time processing on chalk two was less than four hours. He believes the practice and predeployment training worked out in his favor because now he doesn't have to scramble for bags at the last minute.

Since the deployment was an exercise, certain functions were simulated. For example, if the deployer was more than 30-days out from a deployment only the initial medical screening was completed. All items required for final medical clearance were identified and simulated until a date closer to departure. Certain functions could not be practiced due their effect on the daily mission like the purchasing of airline tickets and distribution of orders or other documentation.

Lt. Col. Thomas Svoboda, 39th Air Base Wing plans and programs chief, had a positive feeling about Incirlik's state of readiness when the exercise wrapped up Dec. 14.

"This exercise was a great gauge of the readiness of Airmen postured in AEF 5 and 6," he said. "All the hard work and time deployers and personnel spent supporting the exercise will be well worth it when our Airmen get ready to depart for deployed locations."