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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Jan 5, 2009 - 8:24:33 PM |
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Total Force Integration: Active Duty, Reserve command posts combine with seamless integration for team unity at Pope AFB
By Lt. Col. Ann Peru Knabe & Capt. Jim Ivie, 440th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Aug 4, 2008 - 12:19:41 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Air Force photo by Joe Oliva |
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. - The command post at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., boasts more than 200 years experience in the field between its Active Duty and Reserve Airmen, civilians and one Army soldier. But it's the sharing of resources, programs, training and checklists that make the team stand out from its counterparts.
"We are saving time, money and resources when we train together and follow the same procedures," said Maj. Dan George, 440th Command Post officer in charge. "And we have complete integration of our emergency operations center, incident command structure, and command and control. We're one of the first command posts in the Air Force to fully integrate."
As part the Air Force's continuing initiative to operate more efficiently, the 440th Airlift Wing command post recently merged with the 43rd Airlift Wing command post. Since April 1 both Reserve and Active Duty controllers have been operating from the same schedule and sharing the same mission.
"All of our controllers are 'dual-MAJCOM' certified," said Master Sgt. Jeff Bello, explaining that Reserve controllers are trained in Air Mobility Command requirements, and Active Duty controllers are trained in Air Force Reserve Command requirements. "This means we can quickly respond to incidents affecting the Active Duty and Reserve wings."
Unlike other combined command posts, Pope AFB uses one training plan, one security program, one duty schedule and one pool of controllers. "If one of our controllers needs some flexibility, another one steps in, regardless of whether it's an Active Duty or Reserve Airman," said Bello. "That's just how we work together - fully integrated."
Maj. Glenn Rineheart, chief of the command post, said the team tries to see beyond the MAJCOMS, and is ahead of other units.
"We are almost identical in structure, and this allows members to swap out with other shift controllers," he said. "We run 24/7 with a high ops tempo, so it's critical we have seamless integration."
The Airmen are supported by five civilians and a ground liaison officer from the Army. Staff Sergeant Anthony Sadowski, 82nd Airborne, works as one of the Army Liaison Control Element members.
"It helps being right here in the command post," he explained. "It's easier to coordinate joint operations with aircrews, brief them on any plan, and ensure airborne operations run smoothly."
The Command Post Operations Manager, Mr. Earl "Ray" Russ, contends Pope's progressive technology has leveraged the command post's robust operations.
"We have one of the best flight line video systems in the Air Force," he said. "Our multiple cameras cover the entire airfield, which is more than four square miles."
The Pope command post also recently added infrared technology for night time security. The system relies on a fiber optic "backbone" that even allows soldiers to monitor deploying troops at Pope AFB from nearby Fort Bragg.
Inside the command post, controllers view high definition satellite TV on five plasma displays. At any given time, they have two controllers monitoring activities around the base, making sure information flows systemically to critical parties.
"We have more connectivity with our sister service," said Mr. Russ. "And we're a test base for the Guardian program, a security program designed specifically for the modern terrorist environment."
To keep it all the technology working, the command post employs a full-time information technology manager.
A total of five civilians work in the command post, and all are prior service, and two served as command post superintendents.
"That's a lot of knowledge to leverage," said Mr. Russ. "We've got years of talent and corporate knowledge to glean from." He said this talent helps because the Pope command post is one of the highest readiness and wartime reporting agencies in AMC.
The Pope Maintenance Operations Center is also located in the command post, allowing a real-time view of aircraft generation on both the Active Duty and Reserve sides. When combined with the command post assets, the MOC becomes a more powerful tool to leadership.
"The key to our total force integration success story is attitude," said Major Rineheart. "The Pope command post is one unified team, and we're in it to win it. Our Active Duty Airmen have put in long hours and our Reservists have stepped up in order to make our mission successful. By concentrating on our similarities and common guideposts, we've been able to focus on the meat of the mission, and achieve success together, forging the road to the future."
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Army Staff Sergeant Anthony Sadowski confers with Major Glen Rineheart and Master Sergeant Jeff Bello during command post planning at Pope Air Force Base, N.C. on June 10, 2008. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jacqueline Pender) |
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