Reserve reaches milestone in IR deployment processing

Published June 4, 2012
By Capt. Candice Allen
Readiness Management Group Public Affairs

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The Readiness Management Group here and the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., achieved a milestone in Individual Reserve deployment processing May 24.

Lt. Col. Kim Devoto was the first individual reservist to return from a deployment through the Centralized Deployment Processing Center pilot program at Dobbins. Devoto is an IR assigned to the Tricare Management Agency at the Pentagon. The medical service corps officer spent four months in Afghanistan where he stood up an aeromedical evacuation squadron.

"This is a major milestone for us," said Col. Dawn Wallace, RMG commander. "The CDPC addresses concerns long voiced by IRs regarding the difficulties they encounter during deployment processing.

"Our personnel worked closely with Air Force Reserve Command representatives to develop an incredibly cost-effective way for the Air Force to sufficiently train, equip and deploy our IRs."

Wallace and Col. Marshall Irvin, 94th Mission Support Group commander, greeted Devoto at the processing center.

Though still in its test phase, the CDPC serves as the single point of entry and exit for IRs assigned to combatant commands and Department of Defense agencies where Air Force-specific readiness support is limited or non-existent. The center is designed to meet all pre-deployment requirements for any theater of operation.

"It's a one-stop shop for IRs," said Maj. Terry Troutman, director of RMG plans and programs. "This is a groundbreaking initiative capturing RMG taking care of its people."

Devoto agrees with Troutman.

"The CDPC is much needed," Devoto said. "Currently there's no reservoir of [deployment] information for an IR assigned to a civilian agency that a unit demployment manager would typically provide to a traditional reservist."

This information includes instructions for reporting for duty, traveling and obtaining theater and country clearances. The processing center also informs reservists about supply and medical requirements as well as details about chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training, and ancillary training.

"This process can take the traditional reservist up to 120 days to accomplish, but we complete it all in less than five days," said Master Sgt. Clarence Greene, CDPC liaison at Dobbins.

Since opening Oct. 1, 2011, the center has processed 15 deploying members.

Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., AFRC commander, championed the initiative and chose Dobbins as the center's location. The 94th AW was designated as the hub because it is close to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports.

The Air Force Reserve will look at feedback in the next few months to determine if the pilot program should continue.

Meanwhile, Troutman said IRs will enter the processing center with basic readiness requirements and leave fully-prepared for deployment.