TOP STORY >>Deployment: Are you ready?

By 1st Lt. Jake Schillinger
373rd Training Squadron,
Detachment 4 commander

Have you ever received a phone call in the middle of the night telling you to pack your bags you’re leaving in the morning … don’t know when you’ll be back? If it were to happen today would you be ready? If not, what would you have to do to get ready?

Over my 15 years in service I found it extremely important to be prepared at all times. I’ve been on the receiving end of such a phone call on two separate occasions, and regardless if I was ready or not, I was still going.

Many times I found myself scrambling to get my personal affairs in order at the last minute or eventually handling them over the phone while deployed. However, when it came to handling physical fitness, it couldn’t be handled last minute over the phone.

When I finally got my chance to deploy as a supervisor I learned that being technically proficient is not the only qualification for deployment. You also have to maintain a higher level of personal fitness; this became glaringly evident when we sent maintainers into hostile locations to repair our stranded combat airlifters. When sending airmen in harms way we had to ensure they were capable of facing the physical challenges that may arise in some of the most remote locations in the world.

If we failed, aircraft became big gray targets for enemy ground fire and delayed the aircrew from completing their mission, which in many cases meant moving the critically injured to safety.

From time to time we take for granted our technical capabilities because we’re so good at what we do, but when our readiness is questionable we limit our ability to perform certain critical aspects of the mission. When personal health and fitness becomes an issue we have to limit the individual’s duty and possibly send them home early.

It’s a fact we’ve been engaged in combat operations for nearly 17 years and with no sight of an end in the near future. The Air Force mission has changed significantly over the years, but one thing remains the same – we’re a flexible force that must be ready to support combat operations at a moments notice.

Now ask yourself, if you were to receive that phone call telling you it’s your time to go, would you be ready? Are you ready to meet the demands of a diverse mission, not only technically, but physically too? If not, the New Year is right around the corner … make a resolution to improve your physical fitness and get ready for that call.