Aerial porters wrangle experience from Roundup

Published March 15, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Steve Lewis
512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- When reservists from 18 Air Force Reserve Command aerial port squadrons converged here for 22nd Air Force's first aerial port Roundup March 13-15 most of them were seasoned competitors.

However, some of them had never attended a competition like the Roundup, which was geared to the capabilities of aerial port Airmen.

Among the reservists participating for the first time were Senior Airmen Melanie Mangan and Michael Boehm of the 32nd APS, Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pa. They joined other members of their unit with hopes to bring home a winning trophy.

"Everyone on the team who came here is on the list to deploy in 2010 to Balad (Air Base, Iraq)," said Master Sgt. Owen Meier, who served as the 32nd APS team mentor for the competition. "This Roundup is a good opportunity to show their stuff."

The three-day competition tested the proficiency of five-member aerial port teams in tasks including passenger terminal operations, loading and offloading cargo from a C-130 with running engines and a "Fit to Fight" competition.

Most events used three team members with the exception of the engine running off/on load, which required the entire team to load and unload two pallets and a HUMVEE onto a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft,

"Active duty calls on aerial port squadrons more than ever and the rodeo is a great vehicle to train our members while enhancing esprit de corps," said Col. Christopher Weimar, 22nd Air Force deputy director of logistics. "One thing these units will take away from this competition, whether they are first place or 18th place, is lessons learned."

Airman Boehm, whose aerial port specialty ensures cargo is safely inspected and air worthy before being loaded into aircraft, said the competition improved how he and his team operate together.

"Regardless of how we placed as a team, the Roundup will make what we do in the real world much better," said Airman Boehm.

An Akron, Ohio, native, Airman Mangan had prior experience on active duty as a parachute rigger.

"I served as an augmentee for the aerial port on active duty and I liked the high tempo of the job," said Airman Mangan, who had previously been away from the Air Force for 10 years. "I knew I didn't want to be a parachute rigger anymore and saw this job was available when I joined the Reserve."

Both Airmen worked together with the rest of the 32nd APS team members to complete the mission and return home with a trophy.

Determined to win, the squadron worked through the graded scenarios and ultimately won first place in the Joint Inspection Exercise. Airman Boehm helped his team secure the win using his specialized training in inspecting cargo.

"I definitely learned a lot that I can bring back to the unit," said Airman Boehm. "The whole experience was a serious crash course in what we do as aerial porters."

Tech Sgt. Jeff Godfrey, 32nd APS team chief, said the Roundup provided valuable training for his Airmen.

"When they walk away from this competition, they'll have a better understanding of what's going to be expected of them when they get to Balad," he said. "It's really all about the camaraderie and being part of a team." (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)