PERSCO

(PERsonnel Support for Contingency Operations)

The purpose for PERSCO is to deploy with and account for deployed Air Force (and other services as dictated) personnel. Accountability includes accounting for personnel at a deployed site, tracking personnel projected to arrive or depart, updating duty statuses, completing casualty reporting on personnel deaths, injuries, or illnesses, reporting shortfalls, no-shows, etc. They also respond to the deployed commander concerning any personnel issues (promotions, assignments, decorations, etc.) Accountability is maintained through automated means (MANPER-B) as well as manual methods. The picture above is the MANPER-B equipment of the time. The equipment has been upgraded and are still in service.

A PERSCO team can range from a combination of a two-personnel element through a six-personnel element. The size of the PERSCO support is determined by the total number of personnel to be supported. The 35th TFW(P) had a six-personnel "A" team from George AFB, California and a five-personnel "B" team from Luke AFB, Arizona.

George AFB contingent:

• Captain Nancy Robinson
• Technical Sergeant Robert "Bob" Taylor
• Staff Sergeant Michael S. "Bo" Weeks
• Staff Sergeant Brian "BJ" Johnson
• Sergeant Robert "Rob" Castellano
• Sergeant John Beale (departed prior to Operation Desert Storm)
• Sergeant Timothy "Timmer" Haines (replaced John Beale)

Luke AFB contingent:

• Senior Master Sergeant Roberto "Pollo" Sanchez
• Staff Sergeant John McFalls
• Sergeant Frank Molina
• Sergeant George Saunders (departed prior to Operation Desert Storm)
• Sergeant Chuck "Cherry" Vargo (replaced George Saunders)
• Senior Airman Michael "Squirrel" Vance

Bob Taylor and BJ Johnson were the first of the PERSCO team to arrive in theater. They were part of the ADVON element which deploys in the first load or two from home station. For about the first 4 days after arrival they alone were responsible for accountability of the deployed personnel. No small task since airlifters were arriving at an ever increasing rate until well after the remaining PERSCO team members arrived. Their accountability was initially being done manually as the MANPER-B equipment wasn't deemed high enough priority for them to receive right away. Because of lack of working areas, at one point they were relegated to performing their function by handling paper forms underneath the stairwell of a Bahraini barracks.

Over the course of the deployment, PERSCO was located in no less than five different facilities ranging from an open area shared with maintenence and logistics, to a room too small for three people to be in, to finally a deployable CONEX.

Living conditions weren't the greatest with 12 people in one tent, but we also realized there were many soldiers and Marines in far worse conditions (i.e. sleeping/living in fox holes, trucks, open ground, etc.)

During Desert Storm (January through February 1991) this became standard "evening attire". Scud alerts became way too frequent and because of the potential threat of biological/chemical warheads on Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles, going to total suit-up (MOPP Level 4) became an all too nerve-wracking ordeal. This is when we relied on one another more than any other time; we checked each other to look for the missed open zipper, the unsecured pull-string, exposed skin, or the forgotten helmet.