Joint base Airmen 'deploy' during readiness exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Members of the Air Force tested their ability to respond to contingency operations in the Pacific during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an Initial Response Readiness Exercise Oct. 20-21.

For the first time since Pearl Harbor and Hickam joined their borders to become a joint base, the efforts of 15th Wing, 154th Wing, 647th Air Base Group, 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam joined forces to deploy Airmen from multiple organizations to respond to a "contingency operation."

"This is the first time since Full Operational Capability that we have exercised for a full-scale deployment," said Lt. Col. George Fritts, 15th Wing inspector general.

According to Hickam leadership, the units in Hawaii continue to set the benchmark of Total Force Integration, now adding another element of integrating their Navy partners.

"This is significant because the majority of the individuals that make up the deployment line are now Navy employees, working day-to-day for Fleet Industrial Service Center-Hawaii," the inspector general said. "We also operated closely with our Total Force counterparts, as well as other critical mission partners, to work toward a single, mission-minded focus."

This exercise was designed to mirror the 15th Wing's wartime mission -- "Warrior Airmen projecting peace and power in the Pacific and beyond." The "deployment machine" was put to the test as eight C-17 missions were generated, more than 200 Airmen were processed through a deployment line and more than 140 short tons of cargo was prepared and loaded on an aircraft. Airmen were processed through the mobility line to ensure that they met all requirements for the operation.

"It is important that we are able to execute this mission at a moment's notice," he said. "Exercises take a lot of resources, in terms of time, manpower and money, so it is important that we take full advantage of every exercise opportunity."

Colonel Fritts said each exercise provides many learning opportunities. For this particular IRRE, cargo- and passenger-processing were one focus. The basic "blocking and tackling" of getting people downrange in order to support operations plans, humanitarian missions and other contingency operations was a major focus.

Since the relationships with joint base personnel is relatively new, learning to develop new ways to communicate across cultural differences will ensure all the appropriate organizations get the information they need in order to make time-critical, life-or-death decisions.

"This mission we train for is unique and tough," Colonel Fritts said. "It is critical that we are able to execute this mission flawlessly at a moment's notice, should the need arise."