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Villages Honor Flight

All They Did Was Save The World

Squad Leader Orientation

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Agenda

Why Are We Here Definitions Key Duties Mission Dates 1st Preflight Between Preflight Meetings 2nd Preflight Flight Day Evolution

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Cell Phones

Cell phones off for the day One meeting – no chit chat Your job is to monitor squad table

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Why Are We Here?

Review the Guardian Roles and Responsibilities

Review of Squad Leader duties Iron out any initial problems Help you and your Squad be more

successful

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Definitions

Mission Flight Veteran Guardian Veteran & Guardian Relationship Team

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Definitions

Team = 1 vet and guardian

Squad = 5 teams

Medical Team

Flight Staff FD, MXO, Bus Captains

DC Tour Guides

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Definitions Special Guardians:

Red Hats

Stand-In Guardians (SIG)

Stand By Guardians (SBG)

WCA: Wheel Chair Assistants

Transfer Assistant

Guardians Guide (GG)

Squad Leaders Guide

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Key Duties

Squad Leader

Focal point for squad

Primary interface with flight staff

Operate as a coordinated unit

Where and When

Ensure that Guardians are ready

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Duties (Con’t)

Squad Leader responsibility starts now and continues through the Reunion

Identify an “assistant” who will be available should the SqL be unavailable for some reason.

Role of Veteran specific guardians

ReviewSquad Movement

Understand Bus loading/unloading At airports In Washington

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Mission Schedule

Mission XXSquad Leader meeting TodayPre-flight 1 Six weeks priorPre-Flight 2 Two weeks

prior

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Vet Mobility

GG defines 4 mobility levels

SqLs help assess Veteran mobility within Squad (see Session at end of PF#1)

These levels establish W/C assignment & bus loading (details at Pre-Flight 2)

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First Preflight

SqLs meet half hour early to discuss expectations for the training session. Examples are transportation, rest room protocol, documents on the table, wheel chair assistants and the post meeting.

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Wheelchair Assistants

2 Guardians will be asked to be wheelchair “assistants” on Flight Day

Assistants must have “ambulatory” Vets

The WCA’s expedite loading, unloading and counting of W/C’s all Flight Day

Must ID these volunteers at PF#1

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Squad Table Squad Leader initiates the discussions Meet each other – Team Build Ensure admin issues are resolved Monitor vet/guardian interaction Start to understand any Veteran special

needs (Veteran/Guardian 1-on-1) Discuss gender restroom handoffs

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Squad Table Point out Contact Data Sheet Resolve transportation needs Encourage each team pair to meet between

pre-flight meetings Discuss Squad Event Get to know your Squad Practice “Sound Off” within Squad MXO calls for a practice “Sound Off”

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Squad Table (con’t) Discuss what did you do during the war and

war era photographs. Due at Pre-Flight 2

Post Pre-Flight 1

Brief Meeting (at end of PF#1) Includes SqLs, Medical and staff Review mobility of veterans Discuss transportation to and from

American Legion Identify any issues discovered during

meeting and develop action plans

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Between Preflights

Have squad social

Follow-up with your Guardians Have guardians reviewed med needs with veterans

Are guardians doing their homework re vet’s service?

Any new issues?

Communication link between staff and guardians

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2nd Preflight

SqLs meet half hour early to review status of earlier problems and discuss any new problems

Review of Pre-Flight Meeting #1 Review bus loading, seating, & unloading Squad assembly & movement Resolve remaining questions

Post Pre-Flight 2

Brief Meeting Includes SqLs, Medical and staff Review medical/mobility of veterans Discuss transportation to and from American Legion Raise any issues discovered during meeting Develop action plans

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Last Minute

Will receive last minute communication from staff e.g., weather, any changes, etc.

Communicate info to guardians Have guardians pass info to their Veterans

and confirm they are ready Remind guardians and veterans to bring

meds, IDs, etc.

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Flight Day

Squad leaders should arrive early As Veterans arrive, ensure that:

Squad table is ready Veterans & Guardians arrive & are checked in Both have their ID Pouch & photo ID Guardians have control of Veteran’s and their

own “stuff” – meds, glasses, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, cell phone, etc.

Squad ready for “Sound Off”

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Flight Day

Family members in DC Flight staff must be aware Some Vets are aware of and advise us Some are surprises. We find out through

family members. You and the guardian are in charge

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Evolution

Squad Leader role is evolving More authority, autonomy and

responsibility Assess the guardians in your squad

Help VHF be successful Honest assessment of guardians in your squad Did they do everything expected? Would you want them in your squad again? See hand out.

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Villages Honor Flight

Questions ?

All They Did Was Save The World