Readiness is No. 1 job of U.S. military forces Published Nov. 20, 2006 By Maj. Wistaria Joseph 71st Mission Support Squadron Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Today's military is unlike any other military in past years. Our military is smarter, younger and more patriotic than ever. Since we are a product of American society, it is easy to see why we are the greatest military force in the world. There is no doubt it takes a special person to "serve." Service to others is a remarkable and rewarding adventure and that is why only a small percentage of America is called to serve. Now we are fighting a seemingly unknown enemy who is using unconventional tactics to pursue its aims. This type of asymmetric warfare is one we did not exactly plan for. Every branch of service is engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. Every specialty within each service is also engaged. Male and female Soldiers, Seamen, Marines and Airmen are conducting missions outside of their specialty in this global war. As a personnel officer I would have never imagined myself being on guard with 1,500 Iraqi men under my command. I also never thought I, with virtually no training or understanding of combat tactics, would have had to take command of a convoy. As a nondescript girl from the housing projects of the U.S. Virgin Islands, I never imagined I would find myself in a position of providing guidance and training from a manpower and personnel perspective on how to conduct and stand up an Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police Service, while at the same time enduring mortar rounds and improvised explosive devices. But that is exactly what I encountered on my last deployment. To help answer the question on how you can ready yourself, I offer the following advice. First and foremost, we must all remember we are Airmen warriors. If you are not focused on this mindset, then you are operating in the wrong mode. Being a warrior means taking the responsibility to make sure you are combat ready. In my eyes, this is a three-prong approach: family and home readiness, job skill readiness and combat training readiness. Family and home readiness is one of those areas we oftentimes overlook until the last minute. However, this is one area where you can alleviate a tremendous amount of unnecessary stress on you and your loved ones. Each Airman is assigned to an Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation, so there is no surprise as to what window of vulnerability a person is placed in. We can all take the advice of our leaders and prepare our families and homes for our potential deployment into a combat zone. You can prepare by taking the following actions. First, visit the military personnel flight. The MPF will be happy to assist you with ensuring your Serviceman's Group Life Insurance is updated and accurate according to your wishes. Also, routinely check your virtual Record of Emergency Data on the vMPF. There, you can verify your death benefits are up-to-date and that you elected the person you wish to authorize disposition of your remains should something unfortunate happen to you while you are in service to our nation. It is wise to keep an updated copy of your SGLI and vRED in your mobility folder. Next, is your financial house in order? If you need assistance with this part, don't hesitate to seek guidance from the Airman and family readiness center. The AFRC can provide readiness assistance for your family as well. Remember, the primary purpose of the AFRC is to ensure family readiness. Determine who and how things will be managed at your home by obtaining a special power of attorney. The staff judge advocate office can also assist you with completing a will. While a will is a personal choice, it is oftentimes the most overlooked critical deployment document that specifies step-by-step your wishes upon your death. Moreover, a living will specifies your wishes should you be incapacitated. This is the best gift you can give your loved ones ... the freedom and ease of knowing you thought enough of them to put things in an orderly manner. Next are your primary job responsibilities. Have you completed your upgrade training or are you stalling on that dreadful Career Development Course test? Are you the expert at what you do or do you waver and pass the buck every chance you get? In the end, your expertise in your specialty will be useful and will set you apart. Your supervisor, trainer and unit training manager are all here to assist you. They are in your corner and you can count on them for guidance and support. Lastly, combat training readiness is the third area required in order to prepare you to operate in a combat zone. Make fitness a priority. You will be in a better position to wear the 70 pounds of body armor that is required in the Middle East today and sustain wearing it for an indefinite period of time. In addition to weapons training, you are required to have chemical warfare training, ability to survive and operate training, self-aid and buddy care training and physical fitness, among others. The combat readiness course is another avenue to test your training skills. Which one are you? Do you stand up and ask your unit deployment manager to make sure you fill all your training squares? Or, are you the one who always has an excuse as to why you cannot attend a specified training class? I would suggest if you take control and manage your schedule and your training; it will not be managed for you. Take the initiative and seek out all required training. Once completed, determine your level of comfort (or proficiency) and seek additional training if necessary. In my case, I purchased range time downtown so that I would have personal comfort with my weapon during my deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. Although the training I received from the Air Force was first-rate, I wanted to fire and familiarize myself with the 9mm a few more times prior to my departure. For me, the additional range time paid off, especially when I found myself as the only Coalition service member and the only woman with 1,500 Iraqi male applicants for the Iraqi Army. In the end, I successfully recruited more than 900 of those men in a three-day period in order to increase the manning for the 1st Brigade -- mission accomplished. There is no doubt my deployment was one of the greatest highlights of my Air Force career. I was conducting a mission in defense of our country to help fight and win our nation's wars. In order to do that, we all need to be ready on the home and family front, on the job and with our combat skills. It has been great working with a team of high-charging and creative men and women. You continue to get the job done under any circumstance and your innovative approach to problem-solving says a lot about not being content with the status quo. Just remember that readiness is job No. 1 because we need to be combat capable when called to provide that ultimate service to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and people of America.