Training keeps services Airmen sharp on critical survival mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kat Justen
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. --  When Airmen deploy there is one unit above all others that is integral to their survival. This unit ensures basic needs are met in order for deployers to go forth and complete the mission successfully and without worry where they will rest their head at night or their next meal will come from. This unit is comprised of the men and women of the 459th Force Support Squadron services section, and last week they trained hard to make sure they are up to this critical task.

Members of the 459th FSS conducted a Sustainment Bed Down of Forces exercise here, Thursday and Friday.

“The purpose of the training is to provide insight for services members on what they are responsible for when deployed as a lead advance echelon and follow on team into a bare base environment to support up to 200 people,” said Senior Master Sgt. Shaleen Parson, 459th FSS services superintendent. “The exercise reminds sustainment Airmen of the demands of setting up a bare base facility and population support when tasked to deploy in an environment with no hardened facilities available.”

The major areas of training included lodging, food, fitness, recreation and mortuary preparation.

Lodging

The ADVON services team is the first to hit boots on ground at a bare base, and it is up to them to setup tents and lodging for future deployers. For the exercise, 459th FSS Airmen erected three tents for overnight lodging.

“The lodging section planned the site layout of where the tents will be erected to lodge incoming ‘deployed forces,’” said Parson. “Mission demands, population support and surge determine how many shelters to erect.”

Services also issues lodging necessities and uses item issue as a means to monitor Airmen accountability.

“Once erected, lodging section members assign deployed members into their designated sleeping quarters and issue cots and sleeping bags,” said Parson. “This detail tracking enables Personnel Support for Contingency Operations and lodging section members to work together and account for deployed personnel while assigned to the base locations.”


Food Service

The U.S. military does not want to send Airmen into the field on empty stomachs. Having not only food for the troops, but hot food, is one of the most important aspects of the services mission.

“Our job is to feed the troops,” said Tech. Sgt. Shequita Darby, 459th Force Support Squadron food services noncommissioned officer in charge. “Once the bare base is setup we have to make sure they eat. Everyone will start with three Meals Ready to Eat. After that we want to transition into a hot meal.”

So how does one serve hot meals to Airmen at a bare base with no hardened facilities?

“The food section will set up a Single Pallet Expeditionary Kitchen, which has the capability of feeding up to 500 people within two hours while operated by a four-man team,” said Parson. “The field kitchen provides members with heat and rations for up to 30 days or longer if required.”

The SPEK is a neatly packed, portable and palletized kitchen which can be shipped to bare bases.


“The SPEK will be shipped to the ground. When we get there it is our responsibility to build the tent and set up the portable kitchen,” said Darby. “It comes with a tray ration heater to warm up the rations, sinks, tables, warmers, pans, racks, even a floor - everything you need to setup. For the exercise today we are feeding around 50 people out of the SPEK.”

Fitness and Recreation

The physical and mental fitness of deployed Airmen is another integral aspect of the services mission.

“We have to make sure everyone is getting some type of workout in, staying fit, and also some getting type of entertainment to keep their moral up,” said Senior Airman Sedrick Sam, 459th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist.

In a deployed environment, the fitness specialist would not only maintain the fitness facility and organize workouts, they would also conduct moral and welfare events to help keep spirits up.

“They are responsible for developing a schedule of events to include fitness training, charades, movie nights, poker nights, etc.,” said Parson. “Fitness and recreation provides the deployed members an outlet to keep their minds off daily deployed demands and allow them to take time for themselves after normal work hours.”

Mortuary Affairs

Last, but certainly not least, services Airmen have the somber task of search, recovery, cataloging and shipment of effects and remains of fallen service members.

“The mortuary section is available in case there is a casualty during operations,” said Parson. “A 12-man team is always on standby to perform a search and recovery when needed. They are responsible for bagging and tagging remains during a formatted sweep of a designated area. After collection of remains, remains are stored on ice and then transferred to Mortuary Affairs Casualty Collection Point, and then shipped to Dover Port Mortuary, Del., for further identification.”

The 459th FSS services section plays a significant role in ensuring fallen service members return home to their families. It is also dedicated to staying sharp on the critical, life-sustaining missions necessary to Airmen survival at a deployed location, to include lodging, food, fitness and recreation. If interested in becoming a member of the 459th Force Support Squadron services section, contact local Air Force Reserve recruiting at 240-857-1130.