911TH Airlift Wing pre-deployment exercise Published May 24, 2011 By Senior Airman Jonathan Hehnly 911 AW/PA PITTSBURGH IAP ARS -- The 911th Airlift Wing held a pre-deployment exercise during the May Unit Training Assembly. The annual exercise, which took place both days of the UTA, involved the pre-deployment processes of both personnel and cargo. "The exercises are in place to identify problems and trends," said Master Sgt. Linda Davis, Chief of Career Enhancement, 911 Force Support Squadron. "We are always trying to improve the process." The personnel portion of the exercise ensures that the basic requirements are met for those tasked to deploy, Master Sgt. Davis said. Base members, with war folders in hand, were picked up by bus and escorted to the deployment processing center to start the three part process. "We make it a one-stop shop," said Master Sgt. Davis. The first part began with members swiping their CAC cards. The swipe allowed base personnel to view the member's current information in the personnel data system and see if anything was past due or needed updated. The member's war folder is also checked to ensure basic requirements and required ADLS training are met. A new computer program created by Master Sgts. Jonathan Ballinger and John Wyland was able to cut the 15-20 minute first step of the personnel processing line down to approximately five minutes per person, Master Sergeant Davis said. The second part of the processing line ensures all of the members' immunizations are up to date. The last part was the check-out which took note of accountability. While the three hundred or more Airmen were taking part in the personnel processing line a joint task force of civilian contractors and military members from the traffic management office were checking the units' cargo to ensure it met regulations. The cargo deployment function involves the processing and loading of all the base's units' cargo that is tasked to deploy. This function makes sure the cargo meets specifications and helps to prevent aircraft mishaps, such as, crashes or hazardous leaks that could result from mismanaged cargo. "It helps the units identify their problems," said Steve Tornabene, traffic management manager for Santa Barbara Applied Research. "Some have a few problems, some have a lot but we can correct them on the spot." Part of the process was making sure the height and weight of the cargo that the units packed in the conexes matched up with the paperwork that would be given to the loadmasters. "If the weight and heights are off, it can make a big difference when loading the cargo onto a plane," said Staff Sgt. Lakeisha White, 911 Logistics Readiness Squadron. "This will impact the loadmasters' job. The exercise was set on a strict timeline paced by the Logistics Readiness Squadron. "Depending on the timeframe the base has to deploy, this process could take up to a week," said Mr. Tornabene. "We condense it down into two days for the exercise. We have to make sure we don't bust the timelines."