IPR, Deploying Airmen and Keeping Accountability

  • Published
  • By Airman Jackson Haddon
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Roughly 200 Airmen deploy from Altus Air Force base each year. Deploying isn’t just part of the mission at Altus AFB, it’s a reality and the Individual Personnel Readiness office helps process deployers through the system to get them on their way downrange.

The IPR office is responsible for giving out tasking to the unit deployment managers and is the focal point for accountability for the base.

The work at IPR can be very demanding, but all of the things they do on a daily basis are necessary to keep Altus Airmen ready for deployment.

“We monitor Air Expeditionary Force trackers to make sure any new information coming in from the UDM is getting sent out properly,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Steven Kelly, 97th Force Support Squadron installation readiness technician.

Along with keeping things running smoothly, IPR focal point also handles some accountability aspects of the base.

“Whenever there’s an accountability recall or a natural disaster, it all gets routed through IPR with the focal point working hand-in-hand with the command post and the wing commander to ensure we have 100 percent accountability,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ian Walters, 97th FSS NCO in charge of IPR. “For all Airmen, make sure that you always have your recall roster on hand and make sure your supervisor knows where you are so everyone can be accounted for.”

Accountability is important to the base. It aids readiness and could potentially hinder the mission of forging combat mobility forces and deploying Airmen warriors.

“Deploying Airmen warriors is our job description, we do it on a daily basis,” said Walters. “We make sure the members have all their training and work with the 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron who book the members travel arrangements downrange and we make sure they get to their location on time.”

While 97th LRS and IPR handle most of the work, Airmen can help make the deployment process simple by being prepared during their vulnerably period for deployment.

“Make sure your computer-based training is up to date,” said Kelly. “The Installation Deployment Plan for Altus AFB says, when you’re notified you should be ready to go in three days and it could be crazy to complete the entire checklist and CBT’s in three days.”

While Altus AFB continues to forge combat mobility forces, IPR continues to help the base deploy Airmen warriors.