Big job, small office: IPR ensures Airmen deployment ready

  • Published
  • By By Staff Sgt. Micaiah Anthony
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
A small office assigned to the 100th Force Support Squadron has a huge responsibility when it comes to readiness. The Installation Personnel Readiness office ensures all outgoing Airmen are ready to deploy.

“We support three wings, the 501st Combat Support Wing from RAF Alconbury, England, the 100th Air Refueling Wing and the 352nd Special Operations Wing, and those units stretch out as far as Greece and Norway,” said Tech. Sgt. Danielle Mercer, 100th FSS IPR section chief.

When deployment taskings come down from major commands this section is the first to know.

“The biggest portion of our job is eligibility, most of the time we will get names and we have to figure out if the person is eligible [to deploy] and check for any special equipment they may need,” Mercer said. “Although most of [the research is] with the Unit Deployment Managers, ultimately we have to do our checks and balances which can take a quite a bit of time.”

From there, UDMs take the information received from IPR and report it back to unit commanders to determine who will fill the position at the deployed location. The two jobs, UDMs and IPR, play a vital role in mission readiness.

“I’m a material manager by trade, but I’ve been selected to fill this position and there is a lot to learn,” said Tech. Sgt. Calvin Schroeder, 100th Logistic Readiness Squadron UDM section chief. “IPR’s role is very important – they are the main focal point to help us out when it comes to out-processing our people and communications from higher headquarters.”

Once the UDMs have the deployment information it’s up to IPR to ensure the deployment taskings are filled in a timely manner. After that is completed, the section then turns their attention to out-processing.

“The final out-processing can be difficult as well because if something is not completed this is the last chance to get everything right,” Mercer said. “We are the last eyes on all eligibility and requirements before Airmen go to their deployment location.”

During this process, IPR checks deployment folders and requirement checklists to ensure the individual has completed all necessary training and tasks required for their deployed location.

“We try to help out by having their checklist and folders good-to-go,” Schroeder said. “Once everything has gone through, it’s a relief, especially when there are no discrepancies.”

The IPR office stands ready to answer the call both day and night to respond to short notice requests for forces.

“We carry a 24-hour on-call phone. We know that when it rings it means business and it’s not just deployments that we deal with,” Mercer explained. “When the base has an accountability drill, whether it’s real-world or an exercise, we respond, because we need to get accountability [of manning] for the base.”

At the end of the day, Mercer and her team are able to go home with their heads held high.

“IPR is one of my favorite jobs in personnel,” Mercer said. “I love readiness and knowing that there is a big mission out there that we are a part of.”