DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (USTCNS) --- Since Operation Enduring Freedom kicked off, the Dover Team has provided strategic airlift support. From the security forces, who provide the blanket of safety, to the C-5 crews, who transport the cargo, all members are an integral part in supporting this mission.
However, members of the 436th Aerial Port Squadron cargo processing unit get their hands on everything that is transported. Humanitarian aid seems to always get the headlines, but to these aerial porters, cargo is cargo, and their job is to move it.
"We feel good about shipping the humanitarian goods," said Staff Sgt. Will Lawrence, 436th APS cargo processing supervisor. "Our people come to work and load cargo everyday. This allows them to see what they are doing is directly contributing to a specific mission."
Dover has moved more than 1.4 million pounds of humanitarian aid since Operation Enduring Freedom began.
"We have shipped wheat, (Humanitarian Daily Rations), blankets, and we build the tri-wall boxes that are used in the air drops," said Master Sgt. Karen M. Ernst, 436th APS noncommissioned officer in charge of cargo processing. "Our people are working hard, and we take pride in what we do."
Dover has moved more than 2,000 tons of originating cargo since September. This cargo arrives at the docks via freight trucks and is handled through the cargo processing area. A humanitarian shipment of more than 25 tons of California dates arrived Monday, and was immediately palletized for transport to the Afghanistan people. The dates are traditionally eaten by Muslims to break the Ramadan fast.
Cargo can arrive at any time, but the process is coordinated and scheduled. The freight is received at the port and then palletized for loading onto the aircraft.
"The nice thing about the arrival of the cargo to our docks is that there is a good flow to it," said Lawrence. "We are never swamped with excess cargo, but we have enough to keep us busy."
"It helps being busy and keeps people in the right mind set to get the job done," said Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Munn, 436th APS cargo processing assistant operations noncommissioned officer.
Cargo is in abundance and there is no end in sight, which is easy to tell by the constant movement of forklifts darting in and out of the cargo area. As soon as some cargo is palletized and processed out of the cargo area, more cargo takes its place. With the addition of humanitarian cargo, the flow of mission related items have also increased.
"On average, we've gone from generating around 125 tons of cargo a day to about 200 tons," said Ernst. "That can only be accomplished by a total effort of the entire aerial port. With the added cargo comes added missions for the C-5 crews and operations personnel."
(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
