Where and How: Mobility Exercise Shows Airmen How to Deploy

  • Published
  • By Jennie Chamberlin
  • 927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 180 members of the 927th Air Refueling Wing participated in a mobility exercise at MacDill Air Force Base, June 2, 2012. Several of the wing's units participated in the exercise, which was designed to simulate the steps that Airmen will need to take in the event of a deployment.

After assembling their members and a role call, members of the units processed through several mobility lines. These lines ensure that large groups of people are able to review their paperwork, gather necessary supplies and receive important travel and safety information before departing for a deployment.

Lieutenant Col. Matthew Stork, medical readiness officer for the 927th Aerospace Medicine Clinic, said these exercises are important because it allows Airmen to be proactive in preparing for a deployment. Stork, a five-time deployment veteran, said that many of the Airmen in his unit have never mobilized, and exercises like this are an opportunity for Airmen to make sure everything they would need is in place.

"It gives an awareness of what it'll be like if we ever deploy. We train like we fight, and we need to be prepared and ready," he said.

Part of being ready includes making sure all the information in a service member's record is accurate, said Technical Sgt. Mary McCarthy, 927th Force Support Squadron. In a mobility line, Airmen's records are reviewed to make sure their life insurance, identification cards, dog tags and other paperwork are current and in compliance with Air Force regulations.

As a first-time mobility line participant, Senior Airman Michael Spears, 927th Security Forces Squadron, said the whole process was very helpful in illustrating just how to prepare for a deployment.

"This is how you find out who you are going with, where you're going, and how you're going to get there."