Manage The Deployment Cycle Support Program

February 2008

UNITED STATES ARMY SOLDIER SUPPORT INSTITUTE ADJUTANT GENERAL SCHOOL

Deployment Cycle Support (DCS)

PRACTICAL EXERCISE STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS

OBJECTIVE: This practical exercise measures your ability to manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program in the role of a BN S-1 Officer. You will demonstrate your knowledge of the DCS program by preparing responses for your battalion commander.

TASK: After receiving the Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program lesson, prepare responses on the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program for your battalion commander based on the given scenarios.

CONDITIONS: You will have pencil/pen, paper, DCS CONPLAN (2 May 2003), Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Directive (26 March 2007), and a PE Answer Sheet. Check your PE now. If you are missing a page or a portion of it is illegible, obtain a new one from your instructor.

STANDARD: Complete the answer sheet as if you were preparing two emails for your battalion commander. First is based on his question in Scenario 1, and second is your advice to your commander for Scenario 2.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Ensure that your name, student number, course number, class number, and today’s date are on your answer sheet.

2. ALL WORK ON THIS PRACTICAL EXERCISE MUST BE YOUR OWN. You may NOT communicate with other students, give or receive assistance, make record of your answers anywhere but on your answer sheet, or pass on information about this practical exercise to other students. You will have one hour in which to complete this practical exercise.

SCENARIO 1: You are the Battalion S-1 for 703d Support Battalion, 4TH Brigade Combat Team, which is preparing for deployment in six months. Your battalion commander has asked you to explain what DCS is and what the battalion needs to do to implement and fully manage the DCS Program. Prepare an email for your commander with the details you have found.

SCENARIO 2: You are the Battalion S-1 for 703d Support Battalion, 4TH Brigade Combat Team, which has now been on its’ deployment for 12 months. Based on everything you learned during your lesson on Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program, you know that you should now be preparing for the Redeployment Stage of DCS. Advise your commander (prepare an email) on highlights of this stage to ensure your battalion is on track with the DCS Program. Prepare a list of S-1 considerations for yourself as well tools you can use for your battalion training. DCS Program -ANSWER SHEET

SCENARIO 1: DCS Program -ANSWER SHEET (Cont.)

SCENARIO 2: DCS Program -ANSWER KEY

SCENARIO 1:

DEFINITION : Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) is a comprehensive process focused on preparing Soldiers (AC and RC), DA Civilians, and Army Families for the successful return and reunion of deployed members into their pre-deployment environment. It provides a means to identify Soldiers, DA Civilians, and Families who may need assistance with the challenges inherent to extended deployments. The objective of the DCS Program is to help reduce or eliminate the stressors that contribute to domestic violence, post traumatic stress, and other behavioral stressors caused by a deployment. (Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program brief, Slide 7 and DCS Directive dated 26 March 2007)

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DCS PROGRAM: All Soldiers deployed away from home station for 90 days or more are required to complete the DCS Program. Services for DA Civilians and Families are integrated in every stage of the process, and they are highly encouraged to take advantage of the resources provided. Implementation guidelines include:

 Soldiers who are departing theater on emergency leave, R&R and medical evacuations are included in DCS operations.

 All Soldiers will undergo DCS tasks within the respective phases of the deployment cycle. Commanders are responsible for ensuring Soldiers complete DCS tasks and documentation of tasks. Supporting units, agencies and staffs must provide necessary assistance to units and/or eligible individuals to accomplish DCS tasks during the appropriate phases of the deployment cycle.

 All levels of command must be involved to ensure DCS tasks are accomplished and documented for all Soldiers, including Army personnel deploying or deployed with other services. The DCS process takes place concurrently for Soldiers at deployed locations, CONUS Replacement Centers (CRC), mobilization (MOB) / demobilization (DEMOB) stations, and at the home station for Families.

 The gaining command is responsible for DCS tasks not completed for newly assigned and returning Soldiers and their Families.

 IAW AR 600-20, para 5-10, family members of DA Civilians are included in Army Family Programs; therefore, both Soldier and DA Civilian Family members are authorized and encouraged to attend briefings, training, counseling, and other services identified by the DCS process and participate in follow-up assistance.  DA Civilians deployed overseas and their Family members may use Military OneSource services during the period of deployment and for up to 180 days after return to home station.

(Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program brief, Slide 9 and DCS Directive dated 26 March 2007))

MANAGEMENT OF THE DCS PROGRAM: Commanders are responsible for the enforcement of the program for two reasons: 1) To ensure that Soldiers and their Families are properly taken care of throughout the cycle and 2) To reinforce the importance of the program.

There are seven stages to the DCS process which support the deployment cycle by emphasizing the human dimension of readiness. S-1 tasks that support DCS and the Soldier’s reintegration and Army readiness occurs during each stage. The stages, modeled off the force projection process are: Train-up / Preparation; Mobilization; Deployment; Employment; Redeployment; Post-Deployment; and Reconstitution.

The DCS process begins when a Soldier first arrives and departs a unit. 1) During the Train-up/Preparation stage, two initial forms must be completed which serve as checklists of a newly arrived Soldier are DA Form 5123-1 (In-Processing Personnel Record) and DA Form 5123 (In- and Out-Processing Records Checklist). A Soldier’s Personnel Readiness File will be on file at the BN S-1 or unit of assignment and forms the core of the deployment packet. 2) During the Mobilization stage, DA Form 7425 (Readiness and Deployment Checklist) is required for SRP checks and will accompany every deploying Soldier to the deployment station. 3) DA Form 7631 (Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Checklist) is used to provide a standardized means to evaluate readiness posture and validate military and DA Civilian personnel for deployment; all individuals departing theater will have this form in their possession. The checklist contains a listing of mandatory tasks and other tasks that are to be performed during each stage of the DCS process. Most importantly, DCS redeployment stage tasks for Soldiers and DA Civilians should be accomplished in theater. When all of the tasks are accomplished, the commander must validate the form. Generally, Soldiers are not held in-theater to conduct all tasks if transportation is available. However, much emphasis is placed on the completion of all tasks by the R5 teams who required commander’s verification prior to Soldiers departing. Of importance, the S-1 is often tasked to consolidate the checklists and verify them for commanders against manifest rosters. Additionally, effective communication between commanders in-theater and Rear Detachments are essential. For example, redeployment rosters and itineraries must be exchanged; Rear Dets must notify family members of travel plans; leaders in-theater must be notified if any significant problems potentially await Soldiers on their return; and reunion of families and reception activities must be planned, etc.

HR core competencies, particularly Personnel Accountability and Strength Reporting, are the foundation on which HR support is based and are in every stage of the DCS process. Annex A (Deployment Cycle Support Tasks) To The DCS Directive, lists the mandatory tasks and other tasks that are to be performed. Support agencies such as the Chaplain, ACS, FRG, Legal, Medical, Dental, and Finance are vital links to the management and success of the program and are considered, as well as coordinated, during each stage. The more S-1s can accomplish during the Train-up/Preparation and Mobilization stages, the more successful the Deployment and Redeployment stages will be. (Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program brief, Slides 14, 16, 22 and 27 and DCS Directive dated 26 March 2007)

DCS PROGRAM RESOURCES: DCS Program training tools and additional information can be found using the website below. This website contains valuable resources for S-1s in the management of the DCS Program which will greatly enhance the success of the commander’s program: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/dcs/default.asp - DCS Directive - Deployment Cycle Support Checklist - DCS Stages - DCS related ALARACTs - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (PTSD/MTBI) Chain Teaching Program - Briefings and resources for each stage

(Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program brief, Slide 29)

SCENARIO 2:

Redeployment Stage:

Units/individuals reposture in-theater; transfer forces and materiel to support other operational requirements; or return personnel, equipment, and materiel to the home station or DEMOB station. The redeployment stage continues the process of reintegrating Soldiers and DA Civilians into their pre-deployment environments. Redeployment stage tasks include administrative actions, briefings, training, and counseling for Soldiers and DA Civilians departing theater and family members at home station. 1. DCS redeployment stage tasks for Soldiers and DA Civilians should be accomplished in theater. Commanders are responsible to ensure those tasks not completed in the redeployment stage are completed in the post-deployment stage. All individuals departing theater will have a DCS checklist in their possession. 2. During the redeployment stage, the first O-5 in the chain of command will certify that unit and/or eligible individuals have completed the DCS checklist.

(Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Directive (26 March 2007))

S-1 Considerations List:

 Personnel Accountability and Strength Reporting  Casualty Reports (DA Form 1156 / DCIPS-FWD)  Awards (Unit / Individual)  Update Personnel Records (DD Form 93/SGLV Forms)  NCOERs / OERs  Update Personnel Tempo  Redeployment Roster  Homecoming Activities  Complete all required RC Line of Duty (LOD) actions  Initiate DA Form 7631, DCS Checklist  Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority (RIP/TOA) with incoming unit  Transfer of S-1 Stay Behind Equipment (SBE) to the incoming unit’s organizational property book

(Manage the Deployment Cycle Support (DCS) Program brief, Slide 22)

Training / Tools:  G-1 website-- http://www.armyg1.army.mil/dcs/default.asp contains PowerPoint presentations and videos that can be used by units for Soldiers and families for the Redeployment Stage training  DCS Checklist, DA Form 7631