Barksdale combines real world and deployment exercise Published July 28, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Samuel O'Brien 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs Barksdale Air Force Base, La -- Barksdale Airmen completed a dual deployment and deployment simulation exercise at Hoban Hall July 27-28. The exercise portion of the deployment tasked 263 people and 323 tons of cargo while simulating aircraft arrivals and departures. The Airmen and their equipment were then simulated being deployed to their new location. "This allows us to meet our exercise requirements for the year by combining a real world deployment with an exercise," said 1st Lt. Joe Mercurio, 2nd Bomb Wing installation deployment officer. "It also saves us from having to bring 300 people out here to do the same thing over again." The exercise ensured that Airmen who have not deployed yet are familiar with the process and have all their records up to date in case they are tasked with an actual deployment. Participants went through several checkpoints to double check their eligibility, medical, dental, training and immunizations before being cleared to deploy. "It helps to already know the system of processing in general for when it becomes a real life situation," said Airman 1st Class Madeline Furman, a 2MXS armament system technician. Representatives from the chaplain's office, the Airman and Family Readiness Center and unit deployment managers were on hand in case there were any questions or concerns from the participating Airmen. "I'm here to answer any questions, clear up any discrepancies that might arise or anything that might have been missed or might have come up suddenly," said Tech. Sgt. Craig LeClair, unit deployment monitor, 2nd Maintenance Squadron. The combined event took place over two days, during which time a group of Barksdale Airmen actually departed for their deployment to Guam. The multi-faceted exercise featured another component, involving the Ready Augmentee Program. The program allows Airmen from several squadrons to experience jobs outside their own, such as simulated cargo loading onto a B-52. This helps them prepare for tasks they may have to take on during a real world deployment that they would not be used to doing. "We have airmen inspecting cargo, which they never do on a regular basis," said Lt. Mercurio. "It's helpful for deployment because in a real situation they'd be tasked to do this with only a few days notice." Last week's exercise marks the first time Barksdale has done this type of exercise since 2009 and the first time ever combining it with a real world deployment.