Wing's aerial porters compete with the big 'dawgs'

Air Force Reserve aerial porters Tech. Sgt. Shane Goddard and Airman 1st Class Chris Meyer (right) ensure forklift driver Tech. Sgt. Justin Baker has enough clearance to load cargo onto an awaiting C-130 Hercules during an engine running on-load competition Oct. 26 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. Each AF Reservist represented the 39th Aerial Port Squadron Oct. 25-29 during the inaugural Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge. The event brought together 23 aerial port squadrons in a number of friendly competitions, testing Reservists' speed and accuracy in a variety of aerial port challenges common to the career field. The 39th APS took first place in the timed forklift driving course, while the overall Port Dawg Challenge winners were the 27th APS from Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn. The 39th APS is a subordinate organization to the Colorado-based 302nd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Michael Burns)

Wing's aerial porters compete with the big 'dawgs'

Aerial porters from the 39th Aerial Port Squadron (background) give it their all during a physical training competition Oct. 28 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. The AF Reservists represented the 39th APS Oct. 25-29 during the inaugural Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge. The event brought together 23 aerial port squadrons in a number of friendly competitions, testing Reservists' speed and accuracy in a variety of aerial port challenges common to the career field. The 39th APS took first place in the timed forklift driving course, while the overall Port Dawg Challenge winners were the 27th APS from Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn. The 39th APS is a subordinate organization to the Colorado-based 302nd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Michael Burns)

Wing's aerial porters compete with the big 'dawgs'

Air Force Reserve Command evaluators watch as Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Jamison (background) and Airman 1st Class Chris Meyer wrap cargo in a protective plastic sheet during a 10K forklift pallet build up competition Oct. 28 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. Sergeant Jamison and Airman Meyer joined other 39th Aerial Port Squadron members Oct. 25-29 to compete in the inaugural Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge. The event brought together 23 aerial port squadrons in a number of friendly competitions, testing Reservists' speed and accuracy in a variety of aerial port challenges common to the career field. The 39th APS took first place in the timed forklift driving course, while the overall Port Dawg Challenge winners were the 27th APS from Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn. The 39th APS is a subordinate organization to the Colorado-based 302nd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Michael Burns)

Wing's aerial porters compete with the big 'dawgs'

Air Force Reserve Command evaluators look on as Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Jamison gently moves his forklift in place during a 10K forklift pallet build up competition Oct. 28 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. Sergeant Jamison and other AF Reservists represented the 39th Aerial Port Squadron Oct. 25-29 during the inaugural Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge. The event brought together 23 aerial port squadrons in a number of friendly competitions, testing Reservists' speed and accuracy in a variety of aerial port challenges common to the career field. The 39th APS took first place in the timed forklift driving course, while the overall Port Dawg Challenge winners were the 27th APS from Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, Minn. The 39th APS is a subordinate organization to the Colorado-based 302nd Airlift Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Michael Burns)

Wing's aerial porters compete with the big 'dawgs'

Published Nov. 17, 2010
By Capt. Corinna Jones
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Aerial Porters from the 302nd Airlift Wing demonstrated their proficiency and teamwork at the inaugural Air Force Reserve Command Port Dawg Challenge Oct. 25-29 at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.

AF Reservists representing 23 aerial port squadrons convened at the Transportation Proficiency Center to compete in tests of speed and accuracy in a variety of scenarios common to aerial porters.

Tech. Sgts. Shane Goddard, Jeremy Jamison and Darwin Baker, Staff Sgt. James Schneck and Airman 1st Class Christopher Meyer, aerial porters with the 39th APS, took first place in one of 11 events. The team remained in the overall top three throughout the competition.

"This competition encourages esprit de corps, tests our ability and gives us a chance to go up against our fellow port dawgs," team chief Sergeant Goddard said. "If you don't use teamwork in this competition you will fail."

The Port Dawg Challenge is designed to test Reservists' proficiency in performing aerial port tasks, such as passenger terminal operations and loading and offloading cargo from a C-130 aircraft with running engines. Other events include maneuvering driving courses with a 25-ton Halverson loader and a 10-ton forklift; processing cargo; planning loads; building up pallets; restraining cargo; processing cargo; and participating in a fit-to-fight test. All competitors were hand-selected by their unit senior leaders.

The 39th APS took first place in a timed forklift driving course, which included transporting a pitcher of water on the tines of a forklift through a coned course. The competitors are judged based on how much water is left in the pitcher, following safety standards and adhering to the speed limit. According to the 39th APS team, no one came close to breaking the speed limit.

Sergeant Schneck explained this type of competition not only fosters teamwork, but demonstrates that their training equips them to accomplish the mission effectively.

"Most of us don't do these tasks on a day-to-day basis," he said. "So this helps us to know we can do our mission."

According to Airman Meyer, the most beneficial exercise was the engine running on-load/off-load competition.

"This was typical of a deployment, where engines are running and we have to get cargo and passengers on as quickly as possible. It's important that everyone works as a team and knows their role," he said. "We are deploying shortly and this helps us to see areas we excel at and where we need improvement. I now know that when we deploy, we will be able to accomplish the mission efficiently."

The competition also proved to be beneficial to the 39th APS because they had the chance to meet aerial porters from the 27th Aerial Port Squadron, Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station, who they are scheduled to deploy with in January. The Minnesota-based 27th APS walked away with the "Top Dawg" Award.

"I'm glad we are going with them. They are a great group of folks," Sergeant Goddard said. "I feel ready for this deployment."

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