SOUTHWEST ASIA -- It’s hot, dry, windy and dangerous on the airbase. As you walk around, sand blows in your face and stings like it would at the beach. But this is no beach. This is where people from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., are playing a vital role in the War on Terror, thousands of miles from home.
Chief Master Sgt. Tim Plemmons of the 84th Aerial Port Squadron moves around this busy place watching his troops carefully, full of pride in what they are doing and have accomplished so far.
“This is the job,” he said while sweating in the baking sun. “Putting boots on the ground, supporting them, and moving the members forward.”
Chief Plemmons, the port supervisor, also makes note that one of the most important things they do at this port is pushing the airlift to its max to save lives.
“Every plane we send up is one less convoy on the ground, and that saves lives,” the chief said.
Convoy duty in Iraq is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world right now. Team Charleston members are driving those convoys on 10-day missions which take them across the country from one end to the other.
The work goes on; day and night.
“We’re the benchmark port in the AOR (area of responsibility),” said the chief, a 26-year military veteran.
Capt. Peter Cavellos, 84th APS officer in charge, is well aware that this all-volunteer effort could become a model for future deployments.
“It’s all reservists and all volunteers running the busiest port in theater,” he explained. “We are being looked at very closely by the Air Force to see if this works, and I can tell you that it does.”
Their output is astonishing. In one 24-hour period, these volunteers completed 95 missions, handled 2,450 passengers and moved 140 tons of cargo.
“This team right here makes it happen,” Captain Cavellos said.
Being more than 6,000 miles away from home is not easy for these members of Air Force Reserve Command’s 315th Airlift Wing from Charleston AFB.
“I miss things,” said Staff Sgt. Devin Ward, who lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C., when he’s not pulling reserve duty. “There are no real places to go out here. I’m going to take a month off when I get back and do nothing.”
While working 12-hour days, 12 to 12, there is not much time to take off even if you could. The troops work, eat and sleep. What little time they have off can be spent at the fitness center or a place called “The Flex,” a small recreation facility with comfortable couches, a big screen TV and some pool tables. The smell of popcorn throughout the little metal building brings the troops a little sense of home.
“Privacy is what I miss most,” confided Tech. Sgt. Cindy Williams of Charleston’s 38th Aerial Port Squadron. “I have two roommates in a very small space.”
The small rooms are in modular, mobile home type trailers. Others live in open bay tents with six to eight of their “closest friends.” At least they will be by the time the deployment is over.
There are no bathrooms in the tents. Airmen have to hike over to something called a “Cadillac” – a mobile bathroom with sinks and showers. It’s better than a typical shower tent. Hiking to the bathroom at 3 o’clock in the morning is a challenge in itself. The wind is blowing, there’s very little light to see and strange creatures crawl out of hiding at night. Flashlights are a must.
“When I deployed, my 15-year-ld son gave me a dog tag with his name on it. I carry it everywhere I go,” said Captain Cavellos as he rejoined the Charleston team of aerial porters. (AFRC News Service)