Operational Readiness Exercise

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Chaplain (Capt.) Raymond Boyer, 355th Fighter Wing, briefs Airmen from the 355th FW during the operational readiness exercise here Sept. 13. Chaplain Boyer talked about some of the services the chapel provides to deployed Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore)

Operational Readiness Exercise

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Airmen from the 355th Fighter Wing rest in the sanitized area during the operational readiness exercise here Sept. 13. After going through the processing line, deploying Airmen relax and wait in the sanitized area until they leave. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy D. Moore)

D-M Airmen walk the line during ORE

Published Sept. 15, 2011
By 2nd Lt. Sarah Godfrey
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Approximately 450 Airmen processed through the Personnel Deployment Function line as part of the Operational Readiness Exercise Sept. 12-13 here.

The PDF line is managed by the 335th Force Support Squadron for deployers to complete any last-minute tasks before they leave and is used when deploying mass numbers of service members in a short amount of time.

The first step in the PDF process isn't actually on the line.

"When the deployers first arrive on the bus, they are brought into a room to be briefed by Intel, OSI, public affairs, the Airman and Family Readiness Center, public health, chaplain and legal," said 1st Lt. Selina Dellafosse, 355th FSS PDF officer in charge.

Generally, the information provided is specific to the location deployers will be going.

"If I am briefing an Airman leaving for the Middle East, I not only remind them of services we provide for families, but also sensitive cultural issues they may encounter" said Chaplain (Capt.) Andrew Schulze, 355th Fighter Wing Chaplain. "Our services are provided to help prepare Airmen and families of what to expect whether they are deploying or they are staying behind."

Deployers are led from the briefing to the line where they have the opportunity to take care of any last minute issues that may prevent them from being eligible to deploy.

"The PDF line is the last one-stop shop for all the deployers to get anything taken care of that they need before they leave," Lieutenant Dellafosse said. "This gives them the opportunity to see the chaplain, finance, legal - all the things that you would take care of on a one-on-one basis for deployment that may have not been completed in a short-notice tasking."

The Airmen and luggage are then weighed before moving into the sanitized area to wait to board the aircraft. In OREs, this last step to load is simulated onto the bus.

"OREs are important so that we're ready to deploy anytime," Lieutenant Dellafosse said. "We are prepared because we have practiced."