Combined deployment starts at the processing line

  • Published
  • By Maj. Lisa reaver
  • 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs Officer
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The recent deployment of 15 F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska to Andersen AB, Guam, is the third time the jets have deployed there. This marks the first time both Reserve and Active Duty Airmen were processed through the same deployment line.

Recently, 23 Reserve Airmen from the 477th Fighter Group accompanied their Active Duty counterparts from the 3rd Wing in support of Pacific Commands Theater Support Package tasking at Andersen. Even though the Reserve Airmen are a relatively small contingent, they will be taking the lead in some areas while deployed and filling key leadership roles in both the avionics and weapons shops.

The 477th Fighter Group is a classic associate unit, meaning it shares the F-22s assigned to the 3rd Wing. Active and Reserve component units retain separate organizational structures and chains-of-command, but utilize the same equipment.

The Reserve and Active Duty personnel processed through two separate lines that overlapped in some areas. This was the first time the deployment lines combined efforts and processed all members in one place, the Joint Mobility Center, at the same time.

"Combining the deployment processing lines was a great step forward in the seamless integration we strive for in our Total Force Initiatives. While looking down the processing line, there was no way to distinguish who was Active Duty and who was Reserve," said Staff Sgt. Rob Hays, deployment manager for the 477th Fighter Group.

In the line at the JMC, deployers were screened by multiple agencies including medical, dental, personnel readiness, and finance. If they were in need of any updates, to include shots and blood draws, the Airmen were taken care of and updated on the spot in the deployment line.

The entire deployment is a TFI success story that starts with the processing line and results in more efficient and effective deployed operations, said Lt. Col. David Piffarerio, a Reserve pilot on the deployment.

"TFI principles come together even more quickly because of the high operations-tempo while deployed," he said.

Members of the 477th Fighter Group and the 3rd Wing will live and work together at Andersen to get the job done. Whether they are processing through Active Duty or Reserve Airmen, they are all there to accomplish the mission together and the combined deployment line was the first step.