Thursday, April 09, 2015

CRW Mobility Masters Competition assess deployment processes

by Staff Sgt. Gustavo Gonzalez
621st Contingency Response Wing Public Affairs


4/3/2015 - JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.  -- The 621st Contingency Response Wing continued to test their deployment capability in the form of a friendly competition between two of its units.

Approximately 225 members of the 818th and 817th Contingency Response Groups participated in the 621st CRW East Devil Raid 15-02 Mobility Masters Competition, March 30 - April 2.

The two phase exercise tested the ability of the units to process equipment and personnel for deployment upon the receipt of a tasking to order.

Phase one is designed to assess the initial notification and planning process for deployment taskings. Phase Two is an equipment and personnel readiness competition between the 818 and 817 CRGs of specific equipment tasked, or, unit type codes (UTCs).

"This is a great opportunity for our wing to participate in a friendly, yet competitive environment to test our deployment capabilities," said Maj. Jesper Stubbendorff, 817 CRG director of operations. "The purpose of the competition is to ensure our personnel and equipment are prepared to go wherever we're needed at moment's notice."

The UTCs were processed to the point of unit assembly, complete with all required deployment documentation to conduct a joint inspection at the host base. Mobility folders for the individuals from tasked UTCs were also made available for review at ready line time. Personnel that were identified for tasked UTCs came from a previously established alert hard crew listing.

The results are in and the winners for the categories are...

Mobility Folder - 818 CRG
7E1AF UTC - 818 CRG
7E1CC UTC - 818 CRG
UFBLK UTC - 817 CRG
UFMPS UTC - Tie
PFCRG UTC - 817 CRG
UFMPL UTC - 817 CRG
QFEPF UTC - 818 CRG
817 CRG Outstanding Performer - Staff Sgt. Stephen Maroko
818 CRG Outstanding Performer - Senior Airman Christopher Good
Outstanding Unit - 818 CRG

According to Senior Airman Christopher Good, 818 CRG vehicle maintainer, the fact that it's a competition made participants from his unit want to perform better than their opponents, the 817 CRG.

"This competition strengthened us," Good said. "The exercise pointed out inconsistencies for both groups that we found during this process. Now that they have been identified, we can learn from them and they won't hold us back when we go out the door to deploy."

Good stated the competition wouldn't have been possible without the assistance of the 819th Global Support Squadron.

"They did a great job supporting," Good said. "They not only provided equipment expertise, but also support personnel."

The 570 and 571 CRGs stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are both scheduled to conduct their mobility exercise competition April 27.

The 570, 571, 817, and 818 CRGs are all part of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. The bi-costal wing located at Travis AFB and JB-MDL is highly-specialized in training and rapidly deploying personnel to quickly open airfields and establish, expand, sustain, and coordinate air mobility operations. From wartime taskings to disaster relief, the 621st extends Air Mobility Command's reach in deploying people and equipment around the globe.

The mobility competition is scheduled to be conducted on a reoccurring basis.

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