Mountain Home transitions to Base X in Sharpshooter exercise

Airman 1st Class Boua Her, 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crewchief, writes out paperwork during a simulated base check-in line April 14, 2014, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The line simulates the standard accountability check-in Airmen would go through when they arrive at a deployed location. (Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Malissa Lott)

Mountain Home transitions to Base X in Sharpshooter exercise

Senior Airman Karon McNair, 366th Force Support Squadron customer support journeyman, searches files while Airmen in-process during a base wide exercise April 14, 2014, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. As part of the exercise, Airmen in-process during the transition phase of the exercise, simulating deployment to a war zone. (Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Malissa Lott)

Mountain Home Airmen mobilize for exercise

Published April 14, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Malissa Lott
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Members of the 366th Fighter Wing processed through a simulated deployment line in preparation for a weeklong exercise, April 14.

Creating a smooth in-processing line is an important part for deploying combat-ready Airmen, and protecting resources.

After Airmen fill out paperwork with the Military Personnel Section, they can pickup an exercise guidebook as well as prepackaged food, called Meals Ready to Eat, or MREs. The MREs were free for Airmen who are normally provided food at the base dining facility, a program called a "meal card."

"We have had 22 meal card holders who have processed through the line today that took MREs," said Airman 1st Class Kristina Hampton, 366th Force Support Squadron services apprentice. "There have been more meal card holders than non-holders."

"So far, there haven't been any issues," said Staff Sgt. Chris Palkowetz, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter.

Taking care of Gunfighters is the main concern when it comes to the deployment process. With just a few steps for Airmen to go through, they can easily move through the line.

"The processing has been simple," said Senior Airman Chris Nell, 366th CES firefighter. "Besides paperwork, it has been easy. There haven't been many difficulties."

Many of the Airmen having already done this before during read deployments, and the younger Airmen responded that they can get through the line in a simple fashion.

"This has been much easier since last time," responded Palkowetz. "You can see the improvement."

As the Air Force is implementing new changes, Airmen have been responding positively. The information is more readily available and has been more widely communicated according to Palkowetz.

"Before, everything was cluttered," said Palkowetz. "The information wasn't well known before."

"Luckily, we received all the information we need," said Nell. "It has made the processing much simpler."

With much of the base going through this simulated deployment line, those helping Airmen through the process have to be quick and efficient.

"The line has been running smoothly," said Hampton. "It really seems like a good system."