Airmen, Cargo Ready for Operation Beverly Sunrise

21 March 2016

From Airman 1st Class Jordyn Fetter and Senior Airman Deana Heitzman

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Members of the 35th Fighter Wing’s supporting agencies conducted mock personnel and cargo deployment functions during Phase I of Beverly Sunrise 16-03, an operational readiness exercise, here, March 15.

Almost as quickly as operational readiness exercise Beverly Sunrise 16-03 kicked off, Airmen and cargo were ready to deploy.

Members from all squadrons on base joined forces to conduct mock personnel and cargo deployment functions here during Phase I to ensure they were prepared to fight at a moment's notice.

The personnel deployment function takes place to ensure deploying Airmen possess all necessary paperwork and equipment, as well as confirming their medical records are up-to-date.

"We are the first to set up shop and secure what is needed for a smooth mission operation," said Senior Airman Raphael Eames, a 35th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment journeyman. "Exercises give me the opportunity to learn the process of this important task."

PDF personnel check individual's mobility folders for emergency data cards, computer-based training completion and weapons qualification. They also organize pre-deployment briefings performed by several agencies from across the base.

While attending the PDF, each Airman receives individual protection equipment, consisting of a gas mask, vest, helmet, sleeping bag, first aid kit and a weapon.

Airmen then transport all these items to the cargo deployment function, the first checkpoint for all cargo accompanying personnel on a deployment. During Beverly Sunrise 16-03, the wing commander directed the assembling of the CDF to combat the influx of approximately 170 increments of cargo needing to be processed.

Once pieces are assigned to move, the squadrons deliver them to the cargo yard. Then they are measured, weighted and inspected to determine where each piece is going to be located once loaded on the aircraft.

"If the CDF was not functioning, we would not be able to prepare our deploying forces to be down range and operational," said Master Sgt. Donald Thompson, the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron CDF chief. "The collaboration with all the units across the wing during this exercise has been the best I have seen."