Comptroller contingency training—staying ready to finance the fight

Air Force Comptroller, July, 2004 by Tim Smart

Our first team (now known as "Shadow Squad") assembled for deployment at 0530 on a cold, wet April morning (by the way, it is always cold and wet in Washington state). The members met in the base dining facility with the Squadron/CC and Superintendent for breakfast and a pre-deployment briefing. At approximately 0630 the team arrived at Camp McChord, where they immediately began building their quarters for the next two days. After about two hours of hard work the tents were up and finance was open for business. From this point on the team was constantly receiving input for multiple scenarios to include in-briefing the deployed commander, setting up an LDA, gas mask inspections, establishing contacts with AOR support communities, chemical biological threat conditions and many, many more activities. Around 1200 the team broke for lunch and dined on an exquisite selection of Meals Ready to Eat. By 1300 the scenarios had started again and would continue until disbursing agent balanced at 2000. After some short, but well deserved downtime, the team was treated to pizza by the OIC, and then the team prepared to bed down for the night. However, there was one small catch; the team was required to provide site security (guard duty) during the night. After hastily drawing lots, the guard duty schedule was set and it was time for lights out.

Day two began at 0530 as the team was pulled from their sleeping bags by the last guard on duty. After a quick breakfast at the dining facility, the team was off to the McChord confidence course. To Shadow Squad's surprise, the entire 62d Comptroller Squadron turned out to provide support and cheer them on as they negotiated the obstacles in BDUs and combat boots. Again, Shadow Squad showed they understood the ROE by not trying to see who could be the fastest, but instead concentrating on team work and making sure every member finished safely and as a team. As the last obstacle was completed, the rest of the squadron joined Shadow Squad for a quick 1.5 mile group fitness run before returning to work. With spirits high the team returned to the deployment site for round two. The second day focused around more non-conventional tasks for comptrollers such as camouflage skills, filling sand bags, and constructing defensive fighting positions as well as the more familiar Self-Aid and Buddy Care training and tests on the Airman's Manual. As time ran out the team pulled down their tents and packed up the site, tired but still in high spirits and proceeded back to home station for a quick lessons learned session with the Squadron/CC. As expected when you put your best and brightest on a team the feedback was all positive, but it also contained valuable input for improving the training in the future. More time on balancing, less on sand bags, etc ... As the team departed for home for a bath and bed, they all said the same thing, "....great training, well worth the time, and I learned a lot."

For any of my fellow Squadron/CCs who might want to try this at your units, I have a couple of words of advice. 1) Utilize your in-house knowledge base--those people who have deployed have a wealth of knowledge. 2) Cultivate a good relationship with CES and CS counterparts, they will be critical to your success, i.e., tents, generators, land lines, internet connectivity, etc ... 3) Don't forget your group RAs, the OG and MXG group RAs have both participated with us. 4) By the time this article is published, our next two teams will have completed the training with two more sessions on the schedule. Our brothers and sisters in Contracting and own commander's support staff have signed up to train with us in June, and we feel this will be a real benefit to both units. And finally, while the prep work and manpower cost can be heavy at times, overall it has not greatly affected our ability to service our customers, plus this whole two-day event only cost a couple of hundred bucks to put on. If this sounds like it may be useful to you, we will be more than happy to help. If not, good luck on your own path and remember.... MCCHORD'S COMBAT AIRLIFT TEAM IS FINANCING THE FIGHT.... HUAH!!