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APS bares teeth during Port Dawg Challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Elizabeth Gaston
  • 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. --  Nineteen teams representing some of the Air Force Reserve Command's Aerial Port Squadrons, or "Port Dawgs," are going toe-to-toe June 19-21 in this biennium's "Port Dawg Challenge" at the Transportation Proficiency Center, here.

Dobbins Air Reserve Base is represented by Tech. Sgt. Ray Lewis, Tech. Sgt. Joseph Saldivar and Senior Airman Daniel Taylor, all of the 80th Aerial Port Squadron.

"We are here to win the Port Dawg Challenge," said Lewis. "We have the home court advantage and we have trained for this - 80th APS all the way!"

How these Airmen stack up against other Port Dawgs from across the country, including defending champions, 27th APS from Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, depend on their performance in such events as the Halverson truck driving and loading, cargo planning, inspection and loading, forklift obstacle course and Fit to Fight challenges.

The Port Dawn Challenge was created to enhance and maintain the camaraderie, esprit de corps and prestige of aerial port Airmen while promoting professionalism, leadership, training and communication between "Port Dawgs."

This year, each Port Dawg team has an extra large Dawg bone they must protect from the opposing teams. Unfortunately, the 80th APS has lost their bone, so they will be given the opportunity to "wow" the crowd by performing a skit during the last day of the competition, according to Master Sgt. Charles Gulledge, Port Dawg first sergeant.

"It's all in good, morale-building fun," said Gulledge. "This competition helps focus on the team, or wingman, concept. The Air Force strives to build strong teams. The 80th is a strong team and looks like they're doing well. I'd put our team up against any of these others, any day."