Reservists run Kirkuk's aerial port

Published Jan. 31, 2008
By Senior Airmen Eric Schloeffel
506th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KIRKUK REGIONAL AIR BASE, Iraq -- Air Force reservists continue to play a major role in the Global War on Terror. In fact here they are responsible for operating the base's entire aerial port.

Twenty-five Airmen work in the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. All of them are reservists from the 35th Aerial Port Squadron, McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.

"This is just another example that shows reservists are truly part of the one-team concept and are filling critical needs in today's Air Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Bart Josefowicz, superintendent of the 506th ELRS.

All of the McGuire reservists volunteered for the four-month rotation away from their homes and families.

"This sacrifice springs from a sense of calling and patriotism, and is not uncommon among reservists," said Tech. Sgt. Jose Aviles, 506th ELRS aerial porter. "It's extremely important for me, as a reservist, to volunteer for deployments at times when our country needs my service. There are times when active-duty Airmen just can't do it alone, and that's when it's so important for us to step up and support the mission."

Many reservists also feel the deployment allows them to witness first-hand how they support the war effort, Sergeant Josefowicz said. One of the primary tasks for these aerial porters is handling all incoming and outgoing cargo for the Air Force, Army and coalition forces.

"The operations tempo for this unit is much higher here than compared with home station, but it's also much more rewarding," he said. "We handle large amounts of cargo at the home station but never see the end result of where it goes. At Kirkuk, the Army often pulls right into our area with forklifts to pick up supplies we unload.

"This often includes equipment and food - supplies they need to accomplish the mission," the sergeant added. "If we weren't doing our job inside the wire, all the other services couldn't perform their job outside the wire. It's satisfying to see the final results of our work."

While operating an aerial port without active-duty assistance may seem unusual, these reservists don't perceive any lapse of efficiency, said Sergeant Josefowicz.

"I have no doubt everything will run smoothly," he said. "All of our training is on par with the active-duty force. Requirements these days for the Reserve force are more than just one weekend a month and two weeks a year. Our people keep up with training on their off-duty time, and I have no doubt they are ready to step up to the challenges."

The aerial port serves as just a microcosm for reservists' role at Kirkuk, as Citizen Airmen have a hand in nearly every mission here, said Sergeant Josefowicz.

"I don't know the exact numbers, but the Reserve force makes up a large portion of the Air Force community at Kirkuk," he said. "As reservists, we need to take pride that we answered our nation's call and are essential to success in Operation Iraqi Freedom." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)