315th AW Combat Readiness Office up and running

Published June 3, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Scott Mathews
315th AW Public Affairs

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Air Force Reserve is constantly changing to increase mission capability and effectiveness.

With these changes, the 315th Airlift Wing Combat Readiness office was recently created.

"The Combat Readiness Office was created to plan, prepare, execute and assess the wing's personnel readiness program," said Lt Col. Donna McNabb-Riley, 315 AW Combat Readiness Officer.

Since the restructuring of the Numbered Air Force, the Air Force Reserve realized it needed to create readiness offices in each wing to effectively make sure members are ready to deploy.

"This is a new concept on how we do things," said Colonel McNabb-Riley.

Air Force Reserve wings are inspected on two major events, readiness and compliance, each being inspected every four years.

"Our main job is to plan and implement readiness training events but we also help and assist with the compliance side but as soon as that's over we hit the ground running with operational readiness training," said Colonel McNabb-Riley. "We create exercises and events to get members ready to deploy, pinpointing weaknesses that may need to be addressed."

One ongoing task for the combat readiness office is to augment the Numbered Air Force as they assist other wings complete their inspections and evaluations.

"We help the other units by providing Exercise Evaluation Teams for their inspections. We also gain valuable information to help plan and prepare our own people," said Colonel McNabb-Riley.

Subject Matter Experts are needed during these exercises to make sure Air Force Reserve members are trained correctly.

"We have a pool of experts from the 315th so when the request comes from higher headquarters, NAFs or other wings, we are ready to help", said Colonel McNabb-Riley.

The 315th AW Combat Readiness office has their own staff of subject matter experts, as well. They have a maintenance expert, an emergency management expert and a medical expert.

Colonel McNabb-Riley said, "The best part of this job is helping members correctly prepare for deployment which adheres to DOD guidance to provide an operational force while maintaining a strategic reserve."