THEATER GATEWAY, Kuwait, July 20, 2011 -- Since the beginning of the Rest and Recuperation program back in 2003, many strives have been made to make the program more efficient.
As troops travel in and out of deployed locations throughout the world, the Theater Gateway in Kuwait has been a main hub to get them where they need to be. The process to get the troops home to their loved ones for their 15 days of leave has constantly been improving and while the program is running quite efficiently, key leaders are not done making the program even better.
International Security Assistance Force Command Sgt. Maj. Marvin Hill along with 1st Theater Sustainment Command, Command Sgt. Maj. Danfert Espinal recently toured the Gateway and met with the base command to talk about ways to improve the Rest and Recuperation, or R and R, process for the troops.
I have heard many great things about the R and R area,” Hill said to Theater Gateway Sgt. Maj. Fotini Nixon. “Most [troops] say this is where they receive the most rest on their deployment, but I wanted to come and see for myself the work that is being done.”
A little less than a year ago, Nixon and Theater Gateway Deputy Director Maj. Mickey Turner, took over the Gateway and have made great strides to reduce the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen hold time at the Life Support Area hold time drastically.
“After reviewing customer comments and conducting a mission analysis on the R and R process, the team reduced the flight time from 12 hours to eight hours, which decreased the amount of time passengers spent in the Freedom Yard staging area,” Turner said of the new and improved process.
When passengers arrive at the Theater Gateway, they receive a briefing to ensure their leave forms are properly filled out before going onto the next phase of the process. Once the leave forms are verified for accuracy, then the passengers will be manifested onto a flight based on their geographical travel location, Turner also added.
From there the passengers receive a customs brief and move through the baggage screening process which is a quite similar to the screening process people go through by Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, when catching a civilian flight back in the states. State of the art baggage and body scanners are located in the Navy customs tent which is run by the Sailors of NAVELSG (FWD) Mike Wave.
Once the screening process is complete, passengers enter the Freedom Yard where they can relax, decompress and prepare for the flight home to see their loved ones.
Members of the Theater Gateway team live by their motto -- "To treat passengers with dignity and respect" -- manage customer expectations by providing up to date information throughout the day, and to move R and R passengers within as little as 24 hours but no more than 48 hours upon arrival.”
While the process at the Gateway has continuously improved, there are things units can do to make the process even more efficient for the troops.
“For R and R passengers traveling back to the Continental United States, ensure their DA 31 (leave form) is accurate and complete,” Turner points out some of the things that could hold a passenger up during travel. “For passengers traveling outside Continental United States, ensure they possess a valid passport and have a completed Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearance System approval prior to arrival at the Theater Gateway.”
The customer friendly team at the Theater Gateway is always able to guide units with additional questions in the right direction for a smother R and R process for the troops.
“The R and R program has been near and dear to me for a few years now,” Hill said to the Theater Gateway team. “In Iraq my major concern was how I was going to get my troops home, and then when I got to Central Command, I was able to work on the issues in depth with Maj. Gen. Dowd (1st TSC Commanding General), and now I get a chance to help make the program even better.”
With key leaders and units working together, the R and R program will continue to see changes and upgrades ensuring that the troops on the ground have the time they need with their families to keep them in the fight.
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STAND-TO!: Rest and Recuperation (R and R) Leave Program: 1 Millionth Passenger Commemoration
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