Deployment center supports combat-ready warriors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Frank Casciotta
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Installation Deployment and Readiness Center follows Team Vance combat-ready warriors "from cradle to grave" during the deployment process.

"It sounds morbid, but it's what we do," said Tech. Sgt. Bobbie Wyatt, the NCO in charge of plans and integration for the 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron. "We follow deployments from start to finish. From the time we pull the task off the system until the deployer comes back."

Wyatt uses a computer system called the Deliberate Crisis Action Planning and Execution System, or DCAPES, to keep track of deployment taskings.

"We go into DCAPES and see if we have personnel who can fill the slot," said Wyatt. Then we have to make sure that person is eligible."

If Vance has Airmen capable of filling the deployment slot Wyatt, or one of her team members, will pass along the information to the unit deployment managers.

"I inform commanders about deployment tasks, and tell them who is capable of filling the deployment," said Carl Black, a unit deployment manager with the 71st LRS. "Once they decide who will go, we handle everything to ensure the deployer is prepared before they leave."

From gas mask fitting and ordering equipment to sending Airmen off to training, UDMs do everything they can to ensure deployers are prepared to complete their mission overseas.

"We will assess the needs of the Airman based on where they are going," said Black. "Sometimes it's certain vaccines or they may need combat training because it's hostile area."

Vance fulfills more than 100 deployments tasks each year, said Black.

Though deployments take up a large portion of what those in the IDRC do, they also are the primary office for establishing a base support plan.
"We have to identify Vance's capabilities in dealing with emergency support for other bases," said Wyatt. "If Tinker (Air Force Base) was hit by an ice storm we would be able to support a portion of the people there with housing. Hopefully we will never need to use the plans, but this way we will know how to react to whatever gets thrown in our direction."

Those working in the IDRC support Vance's missions of developing professional Airmen and deploying combat ready warriors by providing them with necessary training and making sure deployment tasks are filled.