JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Twice each year, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, hosts Polar Force, a two-week exercise designed to test the base's ability to integrate, mobilize and prepare assigned personnel, aircraft and equipment.
To bridge the gap between these exercises, the 673d Logistics Readiness Group conducts mobility exercises, the most recent taking place March 9, 2018.
“MobExs differentiate from Polar Force exercises in that they were designed to provide a more ‘teachable’ moment versus an Inspector General or Wing Inspection Team-evaluated exercise,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Jirsa, 773d Logistics Readiness Squadron deployment flight superintendent.
Leadership within the 673d LRG recognized the value of creating smaller opportunities to look at unit cargo preparedness and validate the mobility training provided to both unit cargo preparers and augmentees tasked to support the cargo deployment function.
“Mobility exercises first started shortly after joint-basing here at JBER, in 2010,” said Michael Boy, 773d LRS installation deployment officer. “The cargo deployment function is better prepared and more likely to rapidly and safely support cargo deployments with proper training, real world opportunities to support and exercises to validate effectiveness.”
Key players in the mobility exercises are the tasked unit’s deployment managers, cargo preparers, hazardous-materials certifiers and cargo-increment monitors. The cargo deployment function is the key deployment workcenter for a MobEx and is manned by personnel assigned to the 673d LRG. The vast majority of personnel working in the cargo deployment function are performing additional duties as augmentees, who would be called upon in the event of a real-world contingency.
“The only way you can get people downrange is with their equipment. If you get people downrange and they don’t have any equipment, they can’t do their job,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brian Wood, 673d LRS vehicle maintenance journeyman. “So, this type of training is probably the single most important thing you can do in terms of being ready to move personnel and assets.”
Tasked units prepare cargo for deployment at unit build-up locations and either coordinate with 773d LRS vehicle operations flight for cargo pick-up and delivery to the Joint Mobility Complex or, in the case of rolling stock, ensure cargo is delivered to the complex.
“The MobEx is not considered a success until cargo completes the joint inspection process,” Jirsa said. “The support provided by the 732d Air Mobility Squadron joint inspectors, load validators, and capability forecasting personnel is critical.”
Once all tasked cargo is delivered to the JMC, the cargo deployment function will begin to process cargo for air deployment. This process involves ensuring cargo is physically built to withstand aircraft flight and is in compliance with applicable guidance and technical data. A thorough check of all hazardous material is completed to ensure material is properly packed and that there are no incompatibilities with other cargo or personnel loaded on the aircraft.
Once the cargo deployment function cargo in-check is completed, it’s turned over the 732d AMS joint inspection team to perform a final check of cargo for safe flight. Lastly, the cargo manifest and aircraft load plan are completed.
“We do get to validate training, but at the same time, the MobEx provides an excellent opportunity for both unit personnel and cargo deployment function augmentees to train and learn from processing unit cargo,” Boy said.
Polar Force and mobility exercises enhance readiness and train personnel to satisfy U.S. Pacific Command’s mission of protecting and defending the territory of the United States, its people, and its interests by promoting security cooperation with allies and partners, reinforcing the rules-based international order, responding to contingencies and deterring aggression.