Mobility Warriors: Aerial porters finish Iraq deployment with pride

Published Sept. 11, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Jake Richmond
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- "Without our assets, your (butt) sits."

That's the (slightly altered) motto of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here. If you're in the presence of the squadron's aerial porters -- the men and women who specialize in moving people and supplies -- the words are accompanied by knowing smiles and proud nods.

"Without us moving cargo, the warfighters would be without equipment, food and fuel," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Hatori, 332nd ELRS air terminal manager. "We're like a lifeline for the people downrange."

Sergeant Hatori and most of the people who work for him at the terminal are nearing the end of their rotation, and they have plenty to show for the four months they've spent here at JBB. They've overseen 5,229 aircraft missions and moved more than 34,000 tons of cargo.

"We kind of use the 'hub-and-spoke' system," said Senior Master Sgt. Mark Avery, air terminal superintendent. "We get supplies in here, and we send it out to the spokes, which would be the (forward operating bases)."

"Cargo" and "supplies" are vague, generic terms -- for good reason. The aerial porters move just about anything that's needed downrange.

"It could be (mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles), helicopters, jet engines, propellers, aerial evacuation kits, et cetera," said Sergeant Avery.

And that's not even counting the most important assets of all.

"Another big part of our job is moving passengers," said Sergeant Hatori, who arrived here as a passenger himself, after deploying from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. "We move members of all services, civilians, contractors, Iraqi nationals, and distinguished visitors."

In their May-through-August deployment, the aerial porters processed 73,680 passengers.

"Some people are on rest and relaxation, some are on emergency leave or on incoming and outgoing rotations," Sergeant Hatori said. "A lot of people have to go on short (temporary duty assignments), too."

Getting all the supplies and personnel where they need to go requires the coordination of six different teams. Airmen in the passenger service section sign people up for flights out of JBB. The air terminal operations center tracks inbound and outbound aircraft. The load-planning unit decides how cargo will be placed in the plane, making sure it's balanced for flight. The ramp team loads and unloads cargo. The cargo section specializes in building and unpacking pallets. And the special handling unit takes care of anything out of the ordinary, including registered mail, donated blood, hazardous material, ammunition, explosives and human remains.

Master Sgt. Mark Groshek, the air freight superintendent who oversees the ramp, cargo and special handling teams, said the high-tempo deployed setting creates a rare environment in which several specialties work in unison.

"The best part is meshing together with all the other aerial port sections and working with people from so many different places," said the Cudahy, Wis., native. "To see all of these Airmen out there performing together...it's awesome."

For the porters, there's good reason to work efficiently as a team; they emphasized how rewarding it's been to make a difference in so many various combat missions.

"Our job impacts all other career fields," said Senior Airman Bruno Carreiro, an air transportation journeyman deployed from Air Mobility Command's Dover Air Force Base, Del. "The Humvees get their armor, the MRAPs get to the field, and air med-evac kits are available for wounded personnel."

"We're not busting down doors," Sergeant Avery added. "But we respect those guys who do. And we're just proud of our Airmen who get the supplies to the fight in a timely manner."