JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The 624th Regional Support Group has revolutionized its onboarding for new military and civilian members by introducing the Pacific Warrior Orientation course. Launched on Jan. 11-12, 2025, this initiative gets back to the basics of face-to-face orientation with all new members. It tackles previous inefficiencies and guarantees a smoother, more effective transition for personnel.
Born from a Rapid Improvement Event in August 2024, the collaborative efforts of key players across the 624th RSG from Hawaii and Guam, including Force Management, Group Training Manager, Base Education Training Manager, Wing Talent Management Coordinator, Career Development, Finance, Wing Process Manager, Customer Service, Military and Family Readiness Center, Commander Support Staff, Communications, Force Support Flight, and other staff, led to the establishment of PWO.
The former system was hampered by redundant checklists, excessive processing times, and a lack of accountability. A key statistic underscored the issue: over 67% of personnel in-processed between December 2023 and August 2024 were missing essential elements like their Defense Travel System profile or Government Travel Card application. This undermined squadron trust, directly impacting the RSG’s strategic objective, Airmen readiness.
PWO addresses these challenges with a structured, four-block system. This process takes place during the member’s first Unit Training Assembly weekend. Block one is facilitated by individuals like Tech. Sgt. Jenny Luong-Martin, the 624th Force Support Flight noncommissioned officer in charge of customer support, concentrates on verifying and validating personnel records and benefits. Each member is given a personalized checklist and welcome package, ensuring all required Force Support in-processing steps are completed. This includes introductions and appointment scheduling with relevant sections of Force Support.
“By systematically addressing these areas, the in-processing helps new members hit the ground running,” said Luong-Martin. “This reduces confusion and promotes a smoother transition into their new environment.”
New members receive an immersive introduction to the organization’s culture, policies, and procedures through the RightStart briefing, delivered by block two under the guidance of Ms. Patricia Busque, 624th FSF Military & Family Readiness program manager. Blocks three and four, managed by the Commander’s Support Staff under Master Sgt. Russell Clayton-Cornell, noncommissioned officer in charge of administration, finalized the process on Sunday of the UTA weekend. These blocks leverage face-to-face interactions, instructions, hands-on tutorials, videos, and subject matter expertise provided by the 624th RSG Staff.
“The beauty of it is that you’re giving these members a taste of the RSG,” said Clayton-Cornell. “One of the first briefings of the UTA is ‘What is RSG.’ You might come in as a 2T2 [air transportation] working on the flight line with the 48th Aerial Port Squadron. Because of the PWO, you’re not only going to learn about the 48th, but you’ll also learn what the Civil Engineer Squadron does, what the Aeromedical Staging Squadron does, what the group does as a whole, and even our two units in Guam, so it’s an all-encompassing welcome to the 624th RSG.”
The Pacific Warrior Orientation represents a significant step forward in ensuring new Airmen are fully integrated and prepared to contribute to the 624th RSG’s mission from day one. By rectifying past deficiencies and implementing a structured, accountable process, the 624th RSG invests in its most valuable resource: its people. This enhanced onboarding experience strengthens the organization, provides mission-ready Airmen, optimizes the process, and fosters a sense of belonging.