LRS: Without them you're not going anywhere

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  A forklift lumbers down flightline road, the Airman at the wheel keeping the speed low as not to jostle the contents of his "classified" pallet. As he arrives at a location adjacent to the assigned parking space on the ramp, he gets the go ahead to break red. He looks both ways before crossing the oncoming lane, not so much for the traffic he knows isn't here, but for security forces who may be observing his every move. He has permission, but still he moves with caution until reaching Romeo One, where he stands by. The C-17 Globemaster III just touched down on the runway and taxis to his assigned parking spot, and the real work begins.

Every day, on bases around the world, Logistic Readiness Squadron (LRS) Airmen repeat this scenario, as they plan, organize, coordinate, and manage logistics support activities for Air Force personnel, who are constantly deploying around the globe.

There are many questions, just as there are when traveling on civilian transports. What can be taken, or not taken aboard a military aircraft, and why? Do I get a weapon? What kind of weapon? How many weapons do I get? Where and how do I use the bathroom on this particular aircraft is a common inquiry according to a C-130J Super Hercules aircrew member.

Senior Master Sgt. Jack Bivens, 307 LRS, superintendent of Plans and Integration, has spent the last 27 years preparing and deploying servicemembers and cargo.

"Deployments can be confusing and sometimes conflicting, with multiple information sources coming at you from all different directions," said Bivens. "The requirements are different for every Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). Even when they're going to the same deployed location, the specifics seem to change every few weeks to months."

Therefore, when 307th Bomb Wing Airmen do deploy, there is a group of people behind the scenes responsible for the logistics of getting them, their equipment and the cargo needed to meet their mission requirements to the final destination with them. That responsibility falls to the Airmen of 307th Logistic Readiness Squadron called the Logistic Planners, and they know there is no room for error.

"As a log planner, it's my job to cut through it all, and interpret the deployment policy/requirements. And, to put it simply, get our people from home-station to deployed locations as painlessly for them as possible. The most rewarding aspect is when I know I have helped give deployed members the best opportunity to accomplish their mission," Bivens said.

For years, log planners with the Reserve Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., have supported the combat role of the B-52 Stratofortress and the personnel who flew these jets and kept them in the air. They assured plans for every contingency of deployment needs were on hand, pallets were built by highly qualified Airmen, and schedules were kept for all 550 short tons of combat equipment needed to support a war tasking. They were prepared to ship personnel, cargo and equipment anywhere in the world within days of notification.

For example, in September 2001, when the 917th Wing Commander received orders to deploy his Unit Task Code (UTC), the equipment and personnel were packed, processed and left Barksdale within 24 hours of notification. Log planners coordinated between many agencies very quickly using plans already established to complete that mission.

In 2011, the 917th Wing was inactivated and the 307th Bomb Wing was activated changing the mission for the Reserve Wing at Barksdale from combat coded to a formal training unit.

"We have a new mission and adjusted," said Bivens. "In the past we controlled more than 550 short tons of equipment for combat deployments; that has dropped considerably to 20.3 short tons of non-deployable equipment."

Although the 307 BW mission has changed, the importance of logistics Airmen to the Wing and its mission has not diminished, according to Bivens. Personnel are still constantly deploying in support of contingencies all over the world.

Senior Airman Patrick Cowan, a logistics plans specialist, has been a log planner for almost eight years now. He said, "The greatest challenge in this job is the coordination they have to do with different organizations, some of whom don't know we exist. Our job is important to the 307th Bomb Wing and its mission because we effectively deploy members and cargo to locations all around the globe. We will continue to do so as long as the need exists."