Team Dyess Completes Mission Verification Program Published Aug. 25, 2016 By Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Filip 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- More than 20 Airmen from the 7th Bomb Wing and 317th Airlift Group recently completed a two week Mission Verification Program Exercise at Dyess Air Force Base. The MVP asked subject matter experts from 17 different squadrons the question of whether Dyess could deploy assets simultaneously to two separate theaters of operation. The short answer is: yes. The long answer is: yes, but with challenges. “The ultimate goal of the MVP is for participants to identify areas where operational requirements are greater than base capabilities and recommend ways to close those gaps and ensure mission success” said Lt. Col. Kylene Ruth, the 317th Airlift Group’s senior advisor to the MVP. This exercise included operations, maintenance, and mission support functional areas required for simultaneous deployment and employment of B-1 and C-130J assets. For the first two days, exercise players were educated on various deployment concepts and were then released to research and analyze if the base could support the double deployment. The final deployment plan, which was briefed to Col. David Benson, 7th Bomb Wing commander, and the assembled group commanders of Team Dyess, included parts from each functional area represented, and each area had a unique focus. For instance, while maintenance personnel needed to show how they would generate the required aircraft within a certain window of time while also preparing personnel to deploy, support staff answered the question of where Dyess Airmen would eat and sleep upon arriving in theater and over the course of the deployment. Participants collected and organized tremendous amounts of data—getting into the weeds so to speak—in order to provide a complete picture of Dyess’ deployment capability. This sometimes required the researchers to pursue unusual avenues to find the answer to a question, or look outside the scope of the base in order to satisfy a particular requirement. “One requirement for getting Airmen medically cleared for a deployment requires they complete a test on a specially modified laptop of which Dyess only has a handful,” said Senior Airman Jessica Suggs, the exercise participant from the 7th Medical Group. “We haven’t deployed this many personnel since this test came about so we don’t have sufficient laptops on base,” she added. “I had to call around until I found a facility that not only had sufficient extras, but could also transport them to Dyess in time. This discovery led to us implementing a new course of action; if a deployment ever kicked off real-world calling for a large personnel movement, we’ll be ready.” It was during the research portion of the planning process that many of the challenges Team Dyess would face in this scenario were discovered, but in every instance a solution was found. “The participants learned a lot about how each functional area contributes to the deployment and employment of airpower. They built relationships within the base, the headquarters staff, and with other Airmen at forward operating locations. Above all else, these participants identified several areas we need to go work on to ensure our global readiness," Lt. Col. Ruth concluded. The players completed the MVP by delivering their final deployment plan. “Mission accomplished,” Col. Benson said. “They demonstrated that Team Dyess can provide dominant air power and combat support anytime, and anywhere. ‘Death from above’ and 'gaining by hazard' are our missions, and now we’ll be able to do both even more effectively.” Team Dyess will explore different deployment scenarios by executing additional MVPs in the near future.