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Show May 20. 1999 lem is and come up with a solution." Kosovo, from page 1 often tasked with special skills requirements that result S3 The support teams deployed by the program offices aren't focusing only on the problems U.S. pilots are facing. One support team in Italy recently pulled parts from its inventory to upgrade Dutch aircraft supporting the in rapid deployments for AFMG people. Because of a personnel network already in place throughout the command and the Air Force, AFMCs Manpower now-activat- ed NATO operation. . According to Vidal, the command's maintenance people showed their Dutch counterparts how to take care of the new system, while its contractors sent people to Italy to train the Dutch on how to use the upgrade. In its war-tim- e role, the Air Force Research Laboratory continis also providing technical support for to is missions. The laboratory helping identify and gency accelerate research and advanced technology demonstrations that may solve operational shortfalls. "The Cab's) goal is to provide technically feasible, solutions to the war fighter in the minimum practical time," said Col. Jim Heald, AFRL vice com- and Personnel Readiness Center can locate the people needed to do the job and have them enroute to a theater in less than a few hours. However, adds Howdieshell, the center tries to provide the maximum preparation time for the tasked member and his or her family. "We do our best to provide the right person for the requirement and account for that person from the time that's our misof deployment to his or her return home on-goi- ng sion," Howdieshell said. cost-effecti- Program office support Those working in the command's depots aren't alone in working long hours to support Operation Allied Force. AFMCs program offices are responsible for making sure the weapon systems employed are working in the curd environment. If the weapons are not funcrent tioning as expected in combat operations, experts from the program offices will work solutions, such as different employment modes or hardware and software changes. According to Lt. Col. Michael Vidal, chief of the command's Armament Branch, command program managers have deployed teams ofAFMC and contractor engineers and technicians to isolate and resolve a vaiiety of weapons system challenges in support of the NATO operation. When shortfalls are detected, they are reflected in com- mander. Munitions supply real-worl- With a steady increase in the number of aircraft running bombing missions over Serbia, the command also must ensure the required type and number of munitions are available in the region. AFMC supplies 70 percent of the Air Force's conventional weapons stockpile, Vidal said. In the first six weeks of the conflict, the command supplied forces in Europe with 986 tons of critical munitions airlifted from AFMC bases. "Most Americans see the airplanes hitting their targets, but they don't stop to think about where the munitions and other supplies are coming from," McCoy added. "Our military people, civilians and contractors are the lifeblood in getting support to the region." bat mission need statements. "The Serbs have found shortfalls in some of our employment capabilities," Vidal said. "If we do not compensate for these, our pilots are at great risk. It is up to the people at our program offices to identify what the real prob E gS5SBf?S?SR JWK5WWSJ5S ,f;! (;S&8?)s ve pre-positioni- off-load-ed Cost increases While supporting the war fighters in Kosovo is AFMCs top priority, continued quality support does not come without a price tag. "Wars are costly, and we are cutting into our peacetime dollars," McCoy said. "The anticipation of cost increases will ensure we have the lead time we need to have parts available when our customers need them." McCoy said the command's depots have estimated the increased costs of the war as well as what it is now going to cost to support the command's regular customers through the end of the fiscal year. Those estimates have been forwarded to the Air Force Chief of Staff. "We need to make sure we are providing our forces in harm's way with all the logistics support they need to fight and win," McCoy said. The command is now settled into what war planning experts in Kwolek's operations planning team describe as a "battle rhythm." Kwolek relies on daily reports from each AFMC center to assess how it is supporting the effort and what its upcoming requirements will be. "While there were the expected glitches at first, communication and support from all AFMC centers is running smoothly," she said. JSSWSSSSWS! I - 1 1 1 EUAPORATIUE COOLERS SAVE ON ALL SIZES "i (or 'All Work Scratch 10 Year Warranty Qualify Mattresso s 42 Year Warranty Mattresses Quality Queen MmmmmimA i,, King King mi&z, mm& mssmmm j I i TSSnT if! I fj I ! I FRIGIKING swumi Twin Full Twin Full Guaranteed Expert Installations Legs on All Jobs Financing Available 'n Dent) Queen ng 16-pers- ed 1 Th 1 Relying on five "port" teams, the command's munitions experts also are responsible for making sure the right munitions are delivered from ships. A port team deploys to where the ship will dock and meets it upon its arrival into the theater. The teams and properly ensure the needed munitions are transported, often by railway, into the heart of the conflict. Currently, three of the command's port teams are deployed in support of Operation Allied Force and are working with ships in three different European ports. 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