Projects, Continued

pressure washers require small quantities of water and can be connected to a water buffalo with a garden hose to provide a very efficient tool for washing CESE. A de-bugging steam wash may be required on all CESE that is to be returned to the host country. Normally, this is a rule directed by the Department of Agriculture of the host nation. After all the pallets are built and the CESE is prepared, the air det has the responsibility to develop its own load plans and to set up the marshaling area by chalks. A pre-JI inspection is normally held that allows the air det time to correct any discrepancy. Again, operators must stand by their CESE during the inspection. The “fly away” can take several days; therefore, arrangements should be made for rations and berthing for those personnel who are scheduled on the last chalks. The maintenance field crew is normally among those personnel. The field crew is required to stand by to repair any unplanned breakdowns of CESE that are to be loaded on (he aircraft. Another group of personnel that remains at the airfield is the Departure Airlift Control Group (DACG). The DACG supports the Air Force with the loading and securing of CESE and 463L pallets onto the aircraft. Normally, the majority of air det personnel are manifested to be on the first group of chalks to fly out. These members will have the responsibility to perform the air det retrograde. The retrograde is the period of time used to inventory, reorder, clean, and turn in all the supplies and gear embarked with the air det. Normally, CESE returning from the air det operation is directed through the maintenance shop. This allows CESE to receive an acceptance check before being returned to the field. The air det maintenance supervisor turns in all the EROs, 1250s, and vehicle history jackets (if deployed more than 30 days) used during the mission to the cost control clerk. The license examiner turns in all license related items and any accident reports to the battalion license examiner and the air det dispatcher turns in the closed out dispatch logs, hard cards, and mileage reports to the battalion dispatcher. All collateral equipage is inventoried and turned over to the battalion collateral equipage custodian. After the completion of the retrograde, the air det chain of command will forward an after action report to the battalion chain of command. This report contains a daily diary of events, the personnel embarked, CESE and supplies embarked, task assigned and completed, man-days expended, and lessons learned, and so forth. Therefore, remember to keep records of lessons learned throughout the mission. This will support the after action report, plus help plan future missions Remember, the final condition of CESE, the positive accountability of collateral equipage, and the positive accountability of tool kits are your final grade on how well the equipment management program was conducted during the air det mission. 2-18