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  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Schaap
  • 931st ARG Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Tech. Sgt. John Bryan has two words for Group members heading to Wisconsin: long underwear.

Snow banks and cold temperatures greeted Sergeant Bryan and other personnel when they arrived March 12 at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wis., to survey the location of the Group's upcoming readiness exercise and inspection. Much of the same was expected when Airmen touch down at Volk Field in early April.

"It will either be snowy and cold," Capt. Mark Villacis predicted, "or it will be muddy and cold."

Captain Villacis, 18th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, was among the 931st members who flew with Sergeant Bryan and 22nd Air Refueling Wing personnel to survey Volk Field. Sergeant Bryan, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight Superintendent, 931st Civil Engineer Squadron, Captain Villacis and others shared their thoughts during a meeting a few days later at the 931st headquarters.

Sergeant Bryan was the first to answer with his long underwear suggestion when the Group's training chief, Lt. Col. Keith Kontz, asked for feedback.

"Expect snow to be out there," Lt. Col. William Dorsey, 931st logistics plan officer, said. Colonel Dorsey has also been a liaison for planning inspection preparation with the 22nd ARW.

Unlike the last exercise, Group members are required to bring personal bags for the flyaway exercise and packing warm clothing is encouraged. The average high temperature at Volk Field in April is 59 degrees with a low of 34 degrees, according to www.weather.com. But March, with an average high of 44 and low of 22, will barely be gone when the exercise starts.

Group members will likely experience their share of the temperature lows that usually occur in the early morning hours. Initial chalks will likely start the hour and a half flight to Volk when most people would be sound asleep, Colonel Dorsey said. And in the days following, shift changes will happen before the sun comes up.

Inside temperatures, for the most part, should be well regulated. Dormitories have been recently renovated, Sergeant Bryan said, and the base boasts a new squadron operations building and other updates. Not everyone should expect more contemporary accommodations at Volk, however.

"They have new facilities there," Sergeant Bryan added, "and some of the ancient facilities I remember from 24 years ago."

Other expectations were stressed to Unit Deployment Managers at the meeting. Group members should expect to use their current Airman's Manual, Colonel Kontz said, because the arrival date of updated manuals is unknown. "(The manuals) should be tabbed and ready to go by now," he added.

Colonel Kontz also asked UDMs to be sure exercise participants all have the same "red" reflective belts. Those slated to participate in the Operational Readiness Exercise in June "have to have the right color," he said. The belts not only increase safety but are essential for differentiating between the three units participating.

The belts 931st Airmen have been using for previous exercises may appear to be more orange than red, Colonel Dorsey said, but they are far more red than the orange belts that will be worn by Air National Guard participants from Tennessee.

About 300 Airmen from the 134th Air Refueling Wing from McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tenn., are scheduled to join the 931st and 22nd at Volk Field.

The 931st Airmen headed to the ORE should be ready to start the initial response process as soon as they show up for duty, Colonel Kontz said. The same availability conflict that caused Group members be late joining the last exercise with the 22nd ARW will result in a later showing in April as well. Personnel from the 22nd are expected to start ORE participation two days before 931st members report.

The next meeting to discuss the ORE is scheduled for March 27.