–   Temporarily  designate key personnel to assist in gathering  information.  These  key  personnel should  establish  informal  liaison  with  their counterparts  before  the  predeployment  trip. Possible  members  of  the  predeployment  party  and a list of primary concerns of each individual relating to the deployment site are listed in figure 5-1. Use this listing to help build your understanding of personnel needed  for  predeployment  trips. The  actual  composition  and  numbers  of  personnel on  a  predeployment  visit  are  normally  limited,  but subject   to   negotiation   with   2ndNCB/3rdNCB. Composition  and  number  depend  on  known  or anticipated conditions of the mission. Regardless of the final composition, the functions listed must be done by one of the members of the team. It is imperative that team members be totally prepared and in a position to evaluate  tentative  plans.  Prepared  team  members  can then finalize plans before the departure of the advance party. In addition to and with the functions listed, there are numerous questions that must normally be resolved during  the  predeployment  trip.  A  detailed  list  of questions  can  be  found  in  the  Operations   Officer’s Handbook,  2ndNCB/3rdNCBINST  5200.2  series.  You as a crew leader or shop supervisor should review these questions  before  the  predeployment  visit.  There  may  be questions of your own that need answers. Pass these questions  onto  your  chain  of  command. The  on-site  battalion  should  expect  questions during the predeployment trip and should be prepared to provide the answers. This information will assist in planning for the upcoming deployment. Upon return from the predeployment trip, the final deployment  planning  phase  should  commence  full force.  Definite  assignment  of  functions  and  resources should be made. This final planning phase must be complete  before  the  deployment  of  the  advance  party. The  planning  must  include  continual  follow-up  on  all items  that  may  affect  the  future  deployment. ADVANCE PARTIES Approximately 10 days before the departure of the main body, an advance party will deploy to the sites. The primary  purpose  of  this  group  is  to  turn  over  all continuing  functions,  finalize  construction  plans,  and prepare for the arrival of the main body. This preparation gives  the  main  body  adequate  facilities  and  allows production to begin within 2 or 3 days of arrival. The advance party represents the first permanent group of people at the deployment sites. They will leave a lasting impression. Accordingly, it is strongly recommended that the advance party be staffed with the best personnel available. Choose professional people who can carry out the required functions in a minimum amount of time. There is a trend towards reducing both the number of people on the advance party and the duration. This trend is dictated by limited funds and a desire to subject as  few  battalion  personnel  as  possible  to  a  longer deployment.   Experience   indicates   that   an   entire battalion main body turnover can be done in 10 days if proper planning is done ahead of time. The number of personnel required to turn over the main  body  and  detail  sites  varies  with  the  conditions of  the  site  and  the  imposed  restraints  from  higher authority.  To  minimize  expenditure  of  funds,  the advance party is frequently limited by the capacity of a standard aircraft. Optimum aircraft use often dictates that the advance party/main body personnel be split. The size of the advance party can be adjusted. The most important  consideration  is  the  requirements  of  the mission. Adjustments can be made to suit available travel  arrangements.  To  assist  in  determining  the minimum  requirements,  you  can  use  the  information  in figure 5-2. You can see that the advance party for a main body site should be approximately 150 people. Of course, this number  varies  and  is  dependent  upon  the  actual  pieces of  equipment  and  the  number  of  projects  undertaken upon arrival of the main body. Detail site advance parties also vary. The advance party does not normally start work on any assigned project. However, if a project is of such a nature that it demands an early start, the size of the advance party can be adjusted accordingly. The on-site battalion  should  have  completed  all  work  by  the  time the advance party arrives. The only work continuing should be reaching a good turnover point and cleaning up  the  projects.  Full-scale  production  during  the turnover period benefits neither battalion and should be the exception rather than a general practice. The turnover period is an extremely rushed time. Rushing tends to fray the nerves of everyone involved. To  help  eliminate  some  of  the  normal  stress,  the following  guidelines  should  be  settled  firmly  during  the predeployment trip and strictly enforced by the advance party. 1.   All transportation to and from flights and cargo handling should be furnished by the on-site battalion.  Of  course  the  last  plane  leaving  will be  loaded  by  the  relieving  battalion. 5-2