Canadian team rushes cargo through the node
Now, at the Air Mobility Command base at Dover, Del., the high-speed cargo handling continues.
As the truck arrives, Canadian Army Maj. Serge Pelletier and his team of transporters spring into action. Cpl. Mick Toutant uses a forklift to move the 19 pallets of mail off the delivery truck. Warrant Officer Mike Forrest enters the cargo identification on an adjacent computer. Pelletier, detached from duty at MTMC Headquarters in Alexandria,Va., cross checks documentation. Virtually no words are exchanged between the trio.
Minutes later, the truck empty, Toutant uses the forklift to begin placing the mail parcels on an aircraft pallet. One parcel follows another. The heavy waxed cardboard cartons are marked 153 kilo, 146 kilo, 133 kilo … and so on. Soon, the pallet is loaded and Pelletier and Forrest assist in wrapping the cargo in plastic and restraints.
Within 45 minutes the cargo has moved from truck to air load pallet. Marked with the high-priority red-circle "999" logo, the cargo will be on a C-5 aircraft to Canadian forces in Afghanistan the same day.
The Canadian team? which also includes Sgt. George Lake? is a vital link in the air bridge for the deployed soldiers. The men support the Canada-United States Integrated Lines of Communication Agreement. It gives Canadian cargoes equal priority for movement on American planes and ships. Now in use for the first time, it is working well, said Pelletier.
"This is a benchmark for my military career," said Pelletier. "Our team is responsible for all supplies for the entire Canadian contingent in Afghanistan."
Canada has had 750 troops in Afghanistan since February supporting the War on Terrorism. The soldiers are mostly from the Edmonton-based 3rd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
What cargoes does Pelletier's team move to the infantrymen?
"It can be every type of cargo needed by a military unit-or a small city," said Pelletier. "We move it--without delay."
Forrest and Toutant, both volunteers from the 1 Air Movements Squadron, Winnipeg, appreciate the significance of their mission.
"We are a focal point," said Forrest, a 34-year veteran. "They could not do without us. It is a good feeling. We all do our thing."
As assignments go, Forrest says the Dover mission was as good as a six-month stint of duty he performed in Syria.
Toutant is in agreement.
"It has opened my eyes to a lot of things," said Toutant, an 11-year veteran. "I take great pride in this work."
The Canadians work comfortably with American transporters. Each helps the other.
"When we are not busy, we pitch in to help them," said Forrest. "They do the same for us."
(FROM MILITARY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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