An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

'Port Dawgs' help keep the mission moving at Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joseph Kapinos
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  They work tirelessly around the clock, no matter what the weather. They are on the flight line making sure the warfighter down range is getting the supplies they need to fight the fight. They are the unsung heroes of the flightline. They are the aerial porters, also known as, "Port Dawgs!"

The journey to becoming one of these "dawgs" begins, surprisingly enough, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, where every enlisted Airman attends initial basic training. When most of their basic training comrades leave the base to begin their technical training at other installations, perspective aerial porters simply "cross the street" to start their training right there at Lackland.

Airman 1st Class Roger Umfress, a current aerial porter at Incirlik, knows the training firsthand, as he recently graduated from the course and reported here for his first duty assignment.

The 21 year-old Success, Mo., native said he was excited to begin his career after graduating from the six-and-a-half-week course.

"The course teaches us the basics that we need to take to our first duty assignment," said Airman Umfress. "After we get [to our first duty assignment], we learn more about how to do our jobs and even how we can specialize within the career field."

According to Staff Sgt. Christopher Williams, who works in the cargo load planning section, specialization is key to the success of the aerial port mission. While all aerial port Airmen are trained in basic procedures, he said some porters then receive additional training in specific areas, such as passenger service, Air Terminal Operations Center, or cargo load planning.

"We are trained to do specific jobs, such as loading the planes or building pallets in the yard," said the Melbourne, Fla., native, "but that doesn't mean we just do that job. If it gets too busy, or we want to give the ramp guys a break because of the heat, then all of us are out there pushing pallets and loading cargo. We are a team, first and foremost."

It is that team mentality the dawgs are most proud of. In fact, that camaraderie sometimes manifests itself during military ceremonies, when the unmistakable barking of aerial porters can be heard echoing across the rafters and the stage. That camaraderie is built on the fact they are out on the flight line doing the mission no matter the hour or the weather.

"We do 12-hour duty days when we work and it doesn't matter the time of day, we have to move the cargo," added Airman Umfress.

He said one of the "coolest" items of cargo he's loaded was Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, or MRAPs, headed to Iraq. [The MRAPs] are designed to help protect [Soldiers] and destroy explosive devices. If we weren't out there to load those, they wouldn't get to Iraq where they are needed, and maybe lives would be lost."

After cargo is loaded and the aircraft departs, the aerial porters' work is still not done, because when another aircraft touches down, other porters are there to ensure the cargo is removed from the aircraft and on its way to the customer.

"We deploy a lot in this career field," explained Sergeant Williams. "Everywhere we have cargo flying in, we have to have porters there to handle it. I, myself, have deployed to Iraq twice, along with other deployments. I even deployed here to Turkey."

While it may seem odd to deploy to a location where permanent party personnel are assigned with their families, Sergeant Williams said deployed personnel are critical to the success of the mission. In fact, deployed personnel make up approximately half of the port personnel here.

"We currently have about 35 people permanently assigned to the squadron," said Sergeant Williams. "We also have about 35 personnel from active-duty, guard and Reserve forces to help augment us. And trust me, we need everyone helping."

The job may not be glamorous, but it's a job these dawgs take very seriously. Aerial porters understand that if they're not doing their jobs, the "beans, bombs and blankets" won't get to the people who need them the most.

"Our aerial porters are part of an outstanding total force; the 728th Air Mobility Squadron team, including our maintainers and command and control specialists," said Lt. Col. Scott Morris, 728th AMS commander. "These amazing Airmen are pushing pallets on the flightline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year long to move cargo to the warfighters down range. It's inspiring to see their dedication, motivation and confidence."