Squadron moves crucial cargo for warfighters
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (USTCNS) --- Men and women of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here are in the process of packaging and delivering heavily-sought-after supplies, including vehicle armor, to American warfighters in Iraq.
Charleston AFB is the hub for supplies for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the 437th APS has seen a 71 percent increase in normal operations.
Since the beginning of this month, the 437th APS is averaging 310 tons moved a day, including tires, tents and battle armor for Army convoy trucks. So much cargo has arrived recently that much of the palletized equipment is filling the squadron's 165,000 square-foot warehouse.
Even with the additional shipments, squadron leaders said business is normal at the 437th APS.
"Essential equipment, including armor, has been coming into Charleston since before the war in Iraq," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Halpin, the superintendent of air freight for the 437th APS. "It takes the entire squadron to process and move all this cargo, with 90 percent of everything we move destined for Iraq."
The squadron is a 24-hour operation and is a total force organization. In addition to the 404 permanently assigned officers, enlisted personnel and civilians, the squadron has been augmented by nearly 200 activated guardsmen and reservists, and more than 50 emergency-hire civilians.
"This unit defines the total force concept at its best," said Lt. Col. Chris Pike, 437th APS commander. "We could never put up the kind of numbers we have in support of the warfighter without the assistance of the Air Reserve Components. They came here ready and willing to do their part for the war effort and we have completely integrated these folks into our operations."
The entire process starts when cargo arrives at the base on commercial trucks. Traffic management personnel check in, inspect and label all cargo that arrives at the squadron. Next, cargo processing personnel palletize the equipment for airlift. Thus far in December, the squadron has built an average of 131 pallets a day with each pallet weighing approximately 3,600 pounds.
Once the pallets are built, forecasters work with the Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott AFB, Ill., to arrange airlift missions, with most cargo being moved by C-17s, C-5s and contract civilian aircraft. When those aircraft arrive at Charleston, aerial port personnel load the cargo and send it off to the final customer in the chain - the warfighter. The entire processing cycle for cargo from the time it arrives to Charleston AFB to the time it departs on a mission can take as little as two days.
"We have about 667 tons of cargo in the squadron right now, of which 520 tons are ready to go," said Staff Sgt. Ricky Govin, a 437th APS capability forecaster. "The warfighters order what they need and we move the boots, rations, armor and everything else. Once we have an aircraft on station, we load it almost immediately."
"The people in this squadron understand how critical we are to the troops on the frontlines," said Colonel Pike. "In fact, the squadron's motto is 'We get the stuff to the fight!' and that is the focus for everything we do."
Charleston AFB is the hub for supplies for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the 437th APS has seen a 71 percent increase in normal operations.
Since the beginning of this month, the 437th APS is averaging 310 tons moved a day, including tires, tents and battle armor for Army convoy trucks. So much cargo has arrived recently that much of the palletized equipment is filling the squadron's 165,000 square-foot warehouse.
Even with the additional shipments, squadron leaders said business is normal at the 437th APS.
"Essential equipment, including armor, has been coming into Charleston since before the war in Iraq," said Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Halpin, the superintendent of air freight for the 437th APS. "It takes the entire squadron to process and move all this cargo, with 90 percent of everything we move destined for Iraq."
The squadron is a 24-hour operation and is a total force organization. In addition to the 404 permanently assigned officers, enlisted personnel and civilians, the squadron has been augmented by nearly 200 activated guardsmen and reservists, and more than 50 emergency-hire civilians.
"This unit defines the total force concept at its best," said Lt. Col. Chris Pike, 437th APS commander. "We could never put up the kind of numbers we have in support of the warfighter without the assistance of the Air Reserve Components. They came here ready and willing to do their part for the war effort and we have completely integrated these folks into our operations."
The entire process starts when cargo arrives at the base on commercial trucks. Traffic management personnel check in, inspect and label all cargo that arrives at the squadron. Next, cargo processing personnel palletize the equipment for airlift. Thus far in December, the squadron has built an average of 131 pallets a day with each pallet weighing approximately 3,600 pounds.
Once the pallets are built, forecasters work with the Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott AFB, Ill., to arrange airlift missions, with most cargo being moved by C-17s, C-5s and contract civilian aircraft. When those aircraft arrive at Charleston, aerial port personnel load the cargo and send it off to the final customer in the chain - the warfighter. The entire processing cycle for cargo from the time it arrives to Charleston AFB to the time it departs on a mission can take as little as two days.
"We have about 667 tons of cargo in the squadron right now, of which 520 tons are ready to go," said Staff Sgt. Ricky Govin, a 437th APS capability forecaster. "The warfighters order what they need and we move the boots, rations, armor and everything else. Once we have an aircraft on station, we load it almost immediately."
"The people in this squadron understand how critical we are to the troops on the frontlines," said Colonel Pike. "In fact, the squadron's motto is 'We get the stuff to the fight!' and that is the focus for everything we do."
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