PERSCO makes people its business

Published Sept. 15, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Vincent Borden
386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Senior Airman Eric Henson doesn't have trouble saying goodbye.

As a Personnel Support for Contingency Operations journeyman deployed to U.S. Central Command's premier airlift hub, Airman Henson gets to be the first face Air Force personnel greet coming in and the last they see as they exit the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. The smiles on their faces as they leave the base and the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility is the result of the fluidity of movement created by the operations of the base PERSCO team.

This month, hundreds of personnel will enter and exit the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, to begin their deployments and to travel back to their home units. The PERSCO initiatives, from total accountability during their deployments here to their incoming and exiting briefings, give Airmen the tools they need to have a smooth transition in and out of the AOR.

It's something the PERSCO team, including personnelists like Airman Henson, have a lot of practice doing.

"This specific office is very similar to what I do back home," Airman Henson said. He is a native of Jackson, Miss. "So for me to be here and be a part of the two-man stop shop, it's really good to be able to help them with everything."

PERSCO is the main facilitator of the Right Start and Right Exit briefings, two items that are essential to the success of an Airman's stay here.

Although they are 386th AEW programs, PERSCO is in charge of ensuring everyone inprocessing and exiting the wing has attended both briefings during their time here.

Airman Henson is also responsible for providing personnel services to members while deployed to the wing. Airmen seeking information on retraining, reenlistments, awards and decorations work with Airman Henson, to ensure they not only get the information they need, but that their home units are aware of any changes and updates to their records as well.

Additionally, PERSCO is in charge of knowing the duty status and location of Airmen assigned to the wing at all times.

"Our number one responsibility is accountability," said Airman 1st Class Debra Bender, a member of he 386th EFSS deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. "We need to make sure we can account for every single person that inprocesses on this base."

The reasons for perfect accountability of Airmen in the wing range from internal personnel actions to home unit updates.

"We need to let home station know they left here," said Senior Master Sgt. Sharon Horan, PERSCO noncommissioned officer in charge. "That way, they know to be on the lookout for them."

With hundreds of people coming in and out of the base at any given time, the enormity of that job mandates Airmen work two 12-hour shifts a day two keep up with the manifest updates and checks. Airman Bender is one of the Airmen that performs the duty, for the night shift. Senior Airman Rolfe handles it during the day.

"One-hundred percent [accountability]," said Senior Airman Ryan Rolfe, 386th EFSS, who is also deployed from Minot AFB. "We won't accept anything less."

Airman Rolfe said because of the changes that occur every day to the base roster, a regular interaction with Log Plans, another vital PERSCO function that handles the transportation manifests of Airmen flying in and out, is necessary.

The challenges of keeping up thousands of Airmen and tracking their movements, from emergency leaves to forward deployments and medical conditions, makes for an interesting shift for Airman Rolfe. It also keeps him careful.

"I like what I do," said Airman Rolfe. This is his second deployment. "There's always something new that comes up every day; something that keeps you on your toes. It's one of the most enjoyable things about my job."