Being battle-ready starts with UDMs Published July 15, 2012 By Senior Airman Crystal Charriere 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- For a deploying Airman, the amount of checklists, training and equipment needed may seem daunting, but there are experts here in the wing to help. Each squadron has a unit deployment manager who is well versed in all things deployment related. UDMs provide support before, during and after a combat tour. "We're involved from beginning to end in their process," said Master Sgt. Kylee Munn, 419th Maintenance Operations Flight UDM. "We see them all the way to the airplane." Since each tour has such an extensive to-do list, UDMs may even spend more time getting ready than the deploying Airman. "I research every single trip," she said. "Every deployment, TDY or exercise requires so much research before I can even prepare an Airman, because every requirement is always different." Because UDMs are intricately involved with each detail of a deployment, they can be invaluable to the Airmen they serve. "UDMs are vital to the pre-deployment stage," said Staff Sgt. Heather Skinkle, a 419th reservist currently deployed to Afghanistan. "Prepping for a deployment was really tiring. Luckily, I had a team of people to help get me out the door." UDMs follow a step-be-step process when Airmen deploy. "Step one, we get word the member is getting tasked," said Master Sgt. Cory Bobo, 419th Civil Engineer Squadron UDM. "Once they're tasked, we start getting all their requirements done. We check the base requirements; we check the Air Force Central Command requirements; we check the requirements of the base they're going to; and then we check the pre-deployment requirements. There are checklists for all of them, and they can change daily." While preparing someone to be battle-ready can be challenging and time-consuming, Munn added, it feels rewarding to help Airmen advance their careers and serve their country, she said. "I love being a UDM," Bobo said. "You really get to impact people. When they deploy, it's a stressful time, and if you're a good UDM, you relieve that stress and make sure they're good to do what the military was designed to do, which is deploy. What I'm doing is supporting the warfighter." Stay connected - Join the 419th on Facebook and Youtube