PERSCO: Fighting the war 8.5 by 11 inches at a time

Published March 1, 2008
By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- When deploying in mass numbers to a remote location, accountability is key to efficiently getting the job done.

This is where personnel in support of contingency operations, better known as PERSCO, come in.

During the Phase II portion of Exercise Sharpshooter 08-04.1 March 1 through 2, the 366th Mission Support Squadron PERSCO team provided the wing a central location to keep track of personnel accountability and casualty reporting.

"We have to get with other agencies to match their numbers with ours to maintain 100 percent accountability," said Tech. Sgt. Amber Robbins, 366th MSS PERSCO casualty affairs representative. "We constantly call to make sure everyone is accounted for."

To keep track of any casualties sustained, PERSCO keeps in touch with the deployed medical facility and mortuary affairs office. But if a person goes missing, PERSCO depends on others to help them out.

"We don't know who's missing until we get called," Sergeant Robbins said. "If we don't get the call, we can't report the numbers. We need help from everyone because they're our first line of support."

If the wing sustains a casualty, PERSCO coordinates with the Deployed Medical Facility and casualty affairs before reporting it to the Air Force Personnel Center, who then notifies the next of kin.

The information gathered is also used to keep the commander up to date.

"That way he knows how many people he has out there fighting," said Staff Sgt. Shane Moore, 366th MSS PERSCO alternate casualty affairs representative. "If there is a casualty, the commander will decide if he wants to request a replacement or continue without them."

On top of accountability and casualty reporting, PERSCO also undergoes multiple tests of their skills through injects dropped by exercise evaluators. Scenarios include casualties, missing people, power outages, evacuations, self aid and buddy care and their ability to survive and operate in a chemical or wartime environment.

"But overall, accountability is our biggest thing," said Sergeant Moore.

After PERSCO ensures 100 percent accountability, they set up a miniature version of the military personnel flight to help customers with questions and changes to their military records.

"We can assist with things like reenlistments, assignments or their virtual record of emergency data," said Sergeant Moore. "We can help with almost anything related to military records."

But before Airmen even arrive to the deployed location, PERSCO plays a major roll in getting them there.

"We work on the personnel deployment function line to ensure deploying Airmen are eligible," said Sergeant Moore.

If an Airman isn't qualified for the deployment, their unit must supply an alternate in order to get the correct number of people to support the mission.

But through it all, PERSCO is there to make sure everyone is accounted and in the right place to get the job done.

Exercise Sharpshooter 08-04.1, Day 4

PERSCO: Fighting the war 8.5 by 11 inches at a time

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