Ensuring personnel are qualified and ready to deploy and support worldwide missions is a responsibility that is given to a seasoned group of Airmen: Unit Deployment Managers.
Unit deployment managers are appointed by the base commander for a minimum of two years. They are the primary liaison to the unit training manager and the squadron superintendent regarding deployment related issues.
"UDMs are the first people that you will see once you have been tasked to deploy," said Master Sgt. Markus Nehlsen, 5th Force Support Squadron UDM. "UDMs are there to guide you through your deployment process."
UDMs are required to be proficient in organization skills and experienced in the deployment process, requirements, and systems.
"If I wasn't trained and provided the tools to assist commanders in the deployment process, we wouldn't be able to meet component AOR commanders' needs, which would greatly jeopardize the mission's success," Sergeant Nehlsen said.
Expeditionary combat skills training, chemical warfare training, weapons qualifications training, and medical out-processing are just a few of the things that UDMs are responsible for scheduling.
"We do a lot, from scheduling training to issuing clothing and equipment," said Staff Sgt. Shawn McCahon, 5th FSS UDM.
Additionally, UDMs perform readiness reporting and monitoring through Air Expeditionary Force Reporting Tool, a web-based system that informs AEF Center with the overall status of a unit type code.
Also, as there are strong probabilities of short notice deployments, the UDMs advise individuals to have their personal affairs in order before they embark on their deployment. This includes finances, legal issues and family care plans.
"The people that I work with on a daily basis help make the entire process run smoothly," said Sergeant Nehlsen.
Managing people and assets to ensure unit readiness is a challenging job, but it is not done by UDMs alone. Agencies such as SATO Travel, Airman and Family Readiness Center, and Traffic Management Office are just a few that assist UDMs in the lengthy deployment process.
"Knowing each Airman we deploy is trained, equipped and ready to meet Air Force mission needs is the best part of my job", said Sergeant McCahon.