UDM training ensures all is good-to-go Published April 17, 2012 By Senior Airman Natasha Stannard 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center unit deployment management instructors conducted a one-week in-depth UDM training course here April 9 - 12. This mass training happened here in place of taking more than 20 Airmen from different agencies out of their primary jobs to fly to the states to learn techniques taught in this course saving the U.S. Air Force money. The purpose of the course was to teach deployment managers the basics of deploying cargo and people, so that baseline processes can be standardized. "Unit deployment manager is a tough job," said Allen Carpenter, U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center UDM instructor."UDMs have to cover a lot of things they don't do in their normal jobs. This course touches on their new responsibilities." The course covered the following responsibilities: · Unit type code management · Global force management · Assessing unit readiness · Personnel readiness · Cargo readiness · System overview · Tasking process · Mass movement of people and cargo · Logistics modules for personnel, planning and execution · Redeployment and reintegration Staff Sgt. Shannon Galvin, 52nd Communications Squadron UDM, and Senior Airman Jaqueline Garza, 52nd Force Support Squadron UDM, said they feel more confident with their UDM roles and executing their responsibilities after taking the class and learning of useful systems and tools introduced. "I've learned a lot more about my role," Garza said. "The course made me see a bigger picture of what my job as a UDM really is." Garza explained that the class showed her the entire process of assisting deployers from the time taskings are received to the moment deployers return. "Now that I know more of my responsibilities as a UDM, I can give more detailed information and answer deployer's questions better," she added. First Lt. Travis Rush, 52nd Logisitics Readiness Squadron installation deployment officer, said the course was helpful because deployments affect base units, groups, squadrons and wings, which the installation deployment readiness center oversees. In order for them to oversee the predeployment processes, UDMs must filter all information to them. "As the installation deployment officer, I see huge effects when Airmen are educated at this level," Rush said of the quality, and importance of having this course here. "They may not realize it now, but these UDMs are going to be able to accomplish more tasks. "They have an important job," he continued. "They make sure people get out the door to support any contingency around the globe."