Longer waits expected around base as Eagle Flag deployments task 94 TK members

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KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico --  Team Kirtland will be deploying 94 Airmen to participate in Eagle Flag exercise April 15-29, and many base facilities will be impacted by the shortages of personnel here. 

Military Personnel  Flight customers may experience longer service delays today through April 28. Customers are encouraged to make appointments for necessary services to avoid long wait times. Customer service could also be busy today because of the personnel deployment line. Military personnel flight walk-in hours will remain noon-2 p.m., while customer service will be open 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

The fitness centers will also be affected by the short manning April 18-29. The east fitness center will be open 5 a.m.-11 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The west fitness will be open 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday through Friday and will be closed Saturday and Sunday. 

The 377th Logistics Readiness Squadron will run one shift in vehicle operations from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. The traffic management flight distribution element will only be open from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and all MICAPS will be processed as usual. The personal property element will only be open to customers 8 a.m.-noon. 

Customers of the 377th Comptroller Squadron should expect longer wait times and a slower response to e-mails and phone calls for finance. 

The 377th Medical Group Flight Medicine will not be conducting shop visits during the Eagle Flag exercise. 

Eagle Flag is an Air Force-level expeditionary combat support exercise that provides a safe, yet realistic environment where participants demonstrate the capability to open an air base under harsh conditions. The combat exercise is held at Naval Air Engineering Station, Lakehurst, N.J., and is executed by the Air Force Expeditionary Center's Expeditionary Operations School, Fort Dix, N.J. 

The goal is to provide Airmen with a realistic environment to exercise knowledge and skills required to open and establish an air base, along with initial operations, regardless of environment, mission or aircraft type. Participation in Eagle Flag coincides with deployment cycles for expeditionary combat support personnel and usually occurs 40 to 60 days prior to the tasked Airmen's AEF vulnerability period, according to the Air Mobility Command Web site.