Individual requirements key to inspection success

  • Published
  • By Maj. Regina Reyes
  • 514th Force Support Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Is your gear ready? Is your training complete? Is your Airman's Manual tabbed?
For an Airman participating in an operational readiness inspection, there can be a lot to do in a short period of time.

As the wing quickly approaches April's readiness inspection, the 514th Force Support Squadron would like for you to consider a few additional preparedness questions:

· Is your virtual record of emergency data (DD form 93) current and accurate? If not, navigate to the virtual military personnel flight in order to update the data. Not only is this important for the inspection, but current and accurate emergency data is crucial for real-world accountability.

· Review your servicemembers & veterans group life insurance coverage and elections. Are they up-to-date? If you require changes, visit the force support squadron's customer support section can help.

· Do you have identification tags, otherwise known as dog tags? If you don't, or if they need to be updated, contact your unit deployment manager or 514 FSS/IPR for a new set.

· Have you reviewed your family care plan to ensure it's current? Discuss any issues with your first sergeant as soon as you become aware of them.

· Is your common access card valid and current, or will it be expiring soon? See the customer support section if you need a new one.

· Does the military personnel data system show that you are medically ready? If you have a deployment availability code in the system due to a previous medical readiness issue, it can cause an unnecessary delay in the deployment line or it may keep you from deploying altogether. Ask your deployment manager if you have a codes in the system that need to be removed.

· Did you know that you need to hand-carry your on-the-job training records to the exercise and inspection area? If your records are online, they should be downloaded and hand-carried on approved electronic media.

· Speaking of gear, do you have the clothing and hygiene items required for deployment? You don't want to be caught without the right gear, so take a look at appendix 21 of the installation deployment plan for the complete list. Remember, April may still be cold and rainy.

This list is certainly not all-inclusive, but hopefully it will get you to start thinking about the various preparations that are required between now and April. For those of you who participated in the readiness exercise in October, you're already a step ahead.

Regardless, one of the most important things you can do is to get to know your deployment maager. Ask them your readiness questions. If they don't know the answer, they'll know how to find it. Together, we can demonstrate our capabilities in a wartime environment and make the inspection a successful event.