Transition, preparedness required for mission success

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alyssa C. Wallace
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  During phase two of an operational readiness exercise, Airmen can be found at their various work stations across Base X working diligently to complete the mission.

Although their specific exercise duties can take them to different places, each Airman starts their day at the same location -- the transition area.

This area is like an information hub where safety instructions like signs and countersigns, challenge words and mission oriented protection posture levels are given to exercise players before entering Base X.

Senior Master Sgt. Jason Schmitz, one of the transition area's supervisors, compares this critical information to the briefs agencies like the office of special investigations and safety give upon arrival to a deployed location.

Some individuals may see stopping at the transition area here as an unnecessary step, but Schmitz ensures personnel it's necessary for survival.

"This is important because everyone who is participating in the exercise needs to know what's going on during an exercise," Schmitz said. "They need to know what happened while they were off shift at home sleeping and need to be fully prepared for the next day's mission."

Airmen train how they fight, so the specific guidance provided in the transition area should be followed as if it were being given by leadership downrange. Simply following orders could be the difference between life and death in real-world situations, so in an exercise Airmen should practice followership, listen carefully and be prepared, according to Schmitz.

Being fully prepared not only means being informed, but healthy enough to carry out the mission, too. During this exercise, the transition area was also used as a centralized location for members of the medical group to distribute this year's flu mist vaccinations.

"We're accomplishing two things at once -- we're getting the real-world flu mist requirement out of the way but, as part of the exercise, we're also demonstrating that we're able to give medications or vaccinations in a deployed location," said Tech. Sgt. Christopher Shearer, 35th Medical Operations Squadron immunizations technician.

Shearer and the immunizations team are expected to reach 90 percent of active-duty members here during the exercise, making the cooperation of those entering the transition area critical for their mission success.

"We're right on task; we've got about two-thirds of the base vaccinated," he said. "With everyone's help I'm sure we'll meet our goal."

(Editor's note: Shearer says the flu mist will be available to dependents after the exercise ends Oct. 10.)