Let the war games begin

  • Published
  • By Mary Allen
  • 445th Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  The 445th Airlift Wing teamed up with the 940th Air Refueling Wing, Beale Air Force Base, Calif., along with the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., for an Operational Readiness Inspection at Gulfport Air National Guard Base, Miss., Feb. 3-10.

The inspection tests the units' readiness for a deployment and operation during a wartime environment. With that said, the call came in: this is a recall, report to the base for a pre-deployment departure briefing to begin deploying.

Once the Reservists reported to duty, the briefings began with a pep talk followed by the dos and don'ts. "Things will go wrong. Present a solution, not a problem," Lt. Col. Don Wren, 445th Logistics Readiness Squadron, said. They have been working the last 17 months for these six days. "Perform as if you were in a real world situation," Colonel Wren said.

The wing commander, Brig. Gen. Bruce Davis said to the troops, "thank you for doing what you are about to do. You have been chosen as the best at what we do. You are the best, let's get after it."

Getting everything in order for a deployment is a process. All the necessary paperwork and training is finished, now it is time to prove it. The processing line determines all necessary forms and documentations are needed and correct. The manning document is set, now its time to go and load onto the C-5 and off to Mississippi.

The C-5 aircrews are ready. Not just one or two aircraft, but five C-5s are preparing to take off. Loadmasters place the cargo inside the aircraft. Aircraft maintenance determines the plane is a go, the flight engineers check the gages and go through their check list, co-pilots and pilots start the engines preparing for take off. It's time to shine!