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Aerial Port keeps the force moving

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Throughout history, transportation of supplies and equipment has played an important role in the success of military missions.

With this in mind, Airmen of Grissom's 49th Aerial Port Flight were hard at work making sure important cargo got where it needed to go during training aimed at keeping them proficient at transporting and loading cargo onto KC-135R Stratotankers here recently.

During the training, aerial port Airmen met with KC-135 aircrew as they inspected the cargo and went through the process of transporting it to the aircraft properly. Once there, the aircrew, who perform the duties of loadmasters, directed the loading of the cargo.

"It gets everybody involved and working together," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Harper, 49th Aerial Port Flight aerial port apprentice.

Aerial port is responsible for building cargo pallets, transporting cargo to aircraft, and the planning and logistics involved in the process. While deployed overseas, they also handle passenger transportation.

Staff Sgt. James Jackson, 49th APF aerial port journeyman, who participated in the training, briefed the aircrew on what cargo they had, where it was going and any safety concerns involved.

Jackson noted that some aircrew are not very familiar with the APF outside the flight line, and that this training allowed them to see where and how the cargo is prepared before it reaches the Stratotanker.

"This is a good opportunity to work with the aircrew and help them understand what we do," said Jackson. "We practice going through the process and answer the aircrew's questions."

Although aerial port is responsible for building and transporting the cargo, the aircrew must verify it meets the proper standards before it's loaded onboard.

"The aircrew has final say on what is loaded," said Jackson.

Usually the aircrew inspects the cargo and paperwork when it arrives at the aircraft, said Jackson. In the training, they can inspect the cargo at the source and provide feedback to the aerial port team.

"In the preload inspection, we look for hazardous material, issues with the pallets and any safety concerns," said Master Sgt. Tim Stibbe, 74th Air Refueling Squadron assistant chief boom operator, who was one of the aircrew inspecting and measuring cargo.

Stibbe said that loading cargo onto a Stratotanker, which is primarily used for in-flight refueling, is different from other aircraft that are designed specifically for cargo and passenger transportation.

"The size and weight of the pallets have to be specifically built for the KC-135," he said.

Although aerial port Airmen play an important role in accomplishing the mission, Harper said that many people are not familiar with them or what they do, so she summed up the importance of their mission and how it affects the military at large.

"If we don't move cargo, troops down range won't get their gear," she concluded.

Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker in the Air Force Reserve Command.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer