1. 1 Villages Honor Flight All They Did Was Save The World Squad Leader Orientation

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

3. 3 Cell Phones  Cell phones off for the day  One meeting – no chit chat  Your job is to monitor squad table

4. 4 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

5. 5 Definitions  Mission  Flight  Veteran  Guardian  Veteran & Guardian Relationship  Team

6. 6 Definitions  Team = 1 vet and guardian  Squad = 5 teams  Medical Team  Flight Staff FD, MXO, Bus Captains  DC Tour Guides

7. 7 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

8. 8 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

9. 9 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

10. Review Squad Movement  Understand Bus loading/unloading  At airports  In Washington 10

11. Mission Schedule Mission XX  Squad Leader meetingToday  Pre-flight 1Six weeks prior  Pre-Flight 2Two weeks prior 11

12. 12 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)

13. 13 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.

14. 14 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

15. 15 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

16. 16 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”

17. 17 Squad Table (con’t)  Discuss what did you do during the war and war era photographs. Due at Pre-Flight 2

18. 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 18

19. 19 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

20. 20 2 nd 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

21. 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 21

22. 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. 22

23. 23 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”

24. 24 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

25. 25 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.

26. 26 Villages Honor Flight Questions ? All They Did Was Save The World