379th ESVS helps set expeditionary Airmen up for success

Published Sept. 9, 2007
By Senior Airman Clark Staehle
379th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Many people deploy in step with the Air Force's Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotations, which means every four months, bases throughout the area of responsibility must make accommodations for additional Airmen passing through.

At the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, much of that responsibility falls on the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron and its Personnel Support for Contingency Operations (PERSCO) team.

When Airmen disembark their plane, one of the first places they go is PERSCO. There, they're inprocessed and sleeping arrangements are made. One of the team's responsibilities is accounting for every single person who passes through here, whether this is their final destination or they're transient personnel just passing through.
During a typical rotation, the team processes more than 35,000 servicemembers in and out of the area of responsibility.

After people are inprocessed, their creature comforts are taken care of.

"One of the things people are most concerned about is 'How can I get through here as fast as I can?' and we help facilitate that," said Senior Master Sgt. William Stephenson, outgoing PERSCO superintendent. "You get them in, you bed them down, you get them fed."

That's where the 379th ESVS steps in.

If Airmen waiting for flights into the AOR are here longer than a day, they're put up in
transient tents in Coalition Compound.

Mid-rotation, the tents hold about 1,200 people, but that number swells to more than 2,000 during rotation months, said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Mix, 379th ESVS lodging manager. Sergeant Mix is deployed here from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and is a native of Burlington, Iowa. Between more than 130 trailers and about 80 tents, the squadron can bed down about 15,000 servicemembers.
The squadron helps prepare the tents by checking mattresses and replacing linen.
"In July, we ordered more linen to prepare for this rotation," Sergeant Mix said.
Perhaps the most visible part of the services mission is the food services element. The Airmen and third country nationals there are responsible for feeding everyone on base- three times a day. During rotation months, this means Coalition Compound's Independence Dining Facility serves between 10,000 and 13,000 meals by itself. The AOR's largest dining facility, or D-FAC. is here at the 379th AEW.
"To prepare for the rotation, we look at extending our hours and increasing our food requirements," said Master Sgt. Douglas Mills, 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron outgoing Independence Dining Facility manager.
The D-FAC has increased its inventory by 40 percent to support the surge. This means that each day the facility goes through 20 pallets of produce and 1,500 chicken breasts.
"Preparing for the rotators is the biggest challenge, because we never know how many to expect," Sergeant Mills, a North Adams, Mass. native, said. "They try to give us a heads up when they know one is coming in."
The D-FAC's leadership uses historical data to help forecast their needs for each rotation. They also prepare their contractors by letting them know about the increase in personnel.
The challenge is not everyone falls into AEF rotations, which can make planning difficult, Sergeant Mills said, who is deployed here from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Another challenge the services personnel face is educating servicemembers about the D-FAC's rules: scanning their CAC cards and washing their hands before each meal, and not coming in with sweaty clothes.
The squadron also provides outlets for servicemembers' creative energy with places like the community activity center, Memorial Plaza and the Desert Eagle Lounge.
The community activity center features its own movie theater, pool tables, computers set up for gaming, video game consoles, ping pong and daily tournaments for games like hearts and nine ball. The facility, which is open 24 hours a day to everyone.
Each night, the squadron also hosts events like karaoke and bingo at Memorial Plaza, occasionally features bands and comedians. Memorial Plaza is also located in Coalition Compound.
The 379th ESVS and its PERSCO team is one of many with the Desert Eagle Team that goes to considerable lengths to ensure the surge of Airmen here are accommodated with food, a comfortable place to sleep, and a place have fun.