JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- On Oct. 1, the 87th Medical Group at Joint Base MDL transitioned to a new deployment model, Air Force Force Generation, allowing them to demonstrate their overall ability to generate, deploy, and project rapid global mobility around the world.
Under AFFORGEN, Airmen will train, deploy, and recover as cohesive warfighting units throughout a two-year readiness cycle.
“In this era of near-peer threats, restructuring the force so we can build and present a ready, resilient force under AFFORGEN is going to be key,” said Col. Rudolph Cachuela, Air Mobility Command Surgeon General. “This deployment model will allow us to meet the challenges in the new National Defense Strategy while meeting our Joint Force requirements.”
For the past two decades, the Air Force utilized the Air Expeditionary Force generation model, which deployed individual Airmen across the force to meet readiness or dwell time requirements on short notice. This model subsequently left leaders with limited visibility into Total Force Readiness, force generation capacity, and impacts on short and long-term surge requirements.
“The uncertainty of deploying that came from the previous model put a lot of stress on the MDG to medically clear Airmen in time,” said Lt. Col. John Smith, 87th MDG Operational Medical Readiness Squadron Commander. “With AFFORGEN’s deployment cycles, we’re able to plan ahead from a medical standpoint and maintain a ready force.”
Throughout the 87th MDG, Tactical Combat Casualty Care training was implemented, reinforcing Ready Airman Training concepts to efficiently develop a more lethal, ready, and resilient force with skillsets to support and project the Joint Force and AFFORGEN deployment model.
“We’re pushing boundaries with the Multi-Capable Airman concept and the MDG,” said Smith. “Whether you’re a provider, bioenvironmental engineer, or medical logistician, you’re going to be in that course [Tactical Combat Casualty training] learning how to put on a tourniquet, maintain an IV and take vital signs.”
In conjunction to TCCC training for Airmen on Joint Base MDL, the 87th MDG utilizes the Army's Medical Simulation Training Center with sister services in an effort to create collaborative Joint Force training opportunities. U.S. Army Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 87th MDG collaborate yearly at the MSTC for TCCC training allowing them to familiarize themselves with potential environments found in deployed situations.
“The more we synchronize our capabilities as a Joint Force, the better suited we’ll be able to get spun back up on warfighting concepts,” said Maj. Phillip Hoyt, 87th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight Commander. “The training opportunities that we have within this Medical Group at Joint Base MDL increases our readiness and effectiveness in the total force environment.”
Total Force Mobility Airmen are the backbone of the Joint Force, and the AFFORGEN model provides more consistent training opportunities that efficiently develop and employ Airmen to provide combat support to the joint force.
“We’re aligning ourselves to speak the same language at the joint level,” said Cachuela. “This is allowing the joint staff and the Secretary of Defense to better manage the force as a whole, ensuring we always have units ready to go in order to present a consistent and sustainable mobility force.”