Deployments Strain Those Left Behind

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Florida Today
August 14, 2007 By R. Norman Moody, Florida Today
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE - If an airmen is in Iraq, he's not patrolling the 2,100-acre base he calls home.
That's the situation with more than 15 percent of the personnel in the 45th Space Wing and dozens of other men and women from units at Patrick Air Force Base. Fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan puts a strain not only on those deployed, but also on personnel who remain at the home base.
The 45th Security Squadron at Patrick, one unit of the 45th Space Wing, has as much as 50 percent of its airmen deployed. Another unit, the 45th Weather Squadron, has one-third of its members serving overseas. Even the personnel office is short-handed.
With 160 airmen of the more than 1,000 active duty personnel from the 45th Space Wing serving in the war on terror, those back home must pick up the extra workload to keep the base's mission on track.
"We do what it takes," said Senior Master Sgt. Ian Bohnen, superintendent of the 45th Weather Squadron. "The mission will never fail."
That means staying on duty later than usual, taking on added responsibilities, supplementing the ranks with reservists, and relying on Red Cross volunteers and students to help staff areas such as the base's medical clinic and pharmacy.
"They pick up the slack," said Staff Sgt. Bobby Roseman, of the 45th Security Forces Squadron. "We couldn't do it without the augmentees."
Sgt. Dennis McCarthy, a full-time supervisor on the security squadron who spent seven years as an officer with the Satellite Beach Police Department, said he decided he wanted to help fill the personnel gap.
His service as a reservist allows active duty airmen to deploy.
"We're not here because our arms were twisted," he said. "We raised out hands and said we'll help out for a year."
Even the wing's personnel office must get by with half its staff because of deployment, said the acting commander, Capt. Robert Hubbs.
That means airmen occasionally take on some of the responsibilities of a higher rank, and civilians are brought in.
Other units stationed at the base are also affected. The 920th Rescue Wing, a 1,200-airmen Air Force reserve unit headquartered at Patrick, has about 40 people serving overseas.
Some units, such as the 45th Medical Group, can tap permanent civilian contractors to fill in for deployed airmen. Volunteers also help pick up the slack.
The medical group uses Red Cross volunteers, including high school students who help out during the summer and earn credit toward the state's Bright Futures scholarship program.
The 18 students volunteering this summer work at the pharmacy counter, in records and in other areas of the medical unit.
"We're teaching these children work skills, and they are getting volunteer hours," said Col. Florence Valley, commander of the 45th Medical Group.
Chief master Sgt. Bill Yagatich said airmen understand the need and willingly take on the added responsibility of covering for those deployed to Southwest Asia and elsewhere.
"It's become part of our culture," Valley said.
New airmen coming to the base often volunteer to deploy before they are required to go, added Roseman.
"We get brand new people come in ready to go," he said. "To be honest with you, I don't think they would have it any other way."
By the numbers
Personnel at Patrick Air Force Base, including the 45th Space Wing, the 920th Rescue wing, Air Force Technical Application and the Naval Ordnance Test Unit.
1,995: Active duty military
1,700: Reservists and National Guard
1,800: Appropriation- funded civilians:
6,000: Other civilians
11,495: Total number employed
Patrick Air Force Base
 
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