Team Edwards tests new deployment plan for UCI

Edwards Airmen practice carrying litters and other carrying techniques during self-aid buddy care training for a Phase II exercise at Arnold Park Oct. 7. The Airmen also trained in deployment line processing, weapons familiarization, CBRNE and explosive ordnance training. (Air Force photo by Mike Cassidy)

Team Edwards tests new deployment plan for UCI

An Edwards Airman performs a buddy check after donning a mission oriented protective posture level 4 during a Phase II exercise at Arnold Park Oct. 7. The Airmen are preparing for the upcoming Unit Compliance Inspection. Team Edwards is scheduled to have another similar exercise on Oct. 20 as well as an operational readiness exercise in December. (Air Force photo by Mike Cassidy)

Team Edwards tests new deployment plan for UCI

Published Oct. 7, 2008
By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes
95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Ninety-seven Edwards Airmen participated in a Phase I and II exercise Oct. 7.

During the full-day exercise, the Airmen practiced deployment line processing as well as deployment operations including self-aid buddy care, explosive ordnance, weapons familiarization and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives training.

In addition, the exercise also addressed the new installation deployment plan, said David Bookrum, installation exercise program manager.

"Currently, the IDP is in a draft form, and we wanted to make sure everyone understands what the plan is," Mr. Bookrum said. "The IDP is our base plan to mobilize larger groups. It's based on getting a couple of hundreds of people at a time. We are doing this to ensure we have a good deployment plan."

According to Pierre Poudevigne, senior exercise planner, Team Edwards also performed the exercise in preparation for the Unit Compliance Inspection in January. The inspection assesses areas mandated by law as well as mission areas identified by senior Air Force and Air Force Materiel Command leadership as critical or important to the health and performance of the unit.

"The difference between UCI and the readiness inspection is the targeted readiness inspection," Mr. Poudevigne said. "Also, rather than more than 200 people participating in the ORI, we only have about 100 people for the unit compliance inspection."

Mr. Poudevigne said Team Edwards is concentrating at practicing on base initial response -- the unsatisfactory area the base received during the March 2007 Operational Readiness Inspection.

In preparation of the UCI, Team Edwards is scheduled to have another similar exercise on Oct. 20 as well as an operational readiness exercise in December.