375th LRS Airmen recognized for quick thinking, money saving actions

Published Feb. 24, 2015
By Airman 1st Class Megan Friedl
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- When thousands of dollars are at stake and there's a huge time crunch, Scott Airmen go above and beyond to save the Air Force money, labor and time.

Such was the case Jan. 27 when Airmen from the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron received a short-notice mission to support the Vice President of the United States.

Joe Biden flew to Indiana to pay the nation's respect at the funeral of former Senator and Governor of Kentucky, Wendall Ford. However, mission planners soon learned that the airport in Indiana did not have the right type of ground equipment for passenger offload, so the call went out for Scott AFB to assist.

Presidential support taskings normally allow a 48-72 hour response time, however, the squadron had less than 17 hours to prepare and transport a passenger staircase truck and aerospace ground equipment, or AGE, from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, to Evansville, Indiana. The challenge was how they could do that quickly and in the most cost effective manner since there were no other local entities near that airport that could assist. Their options were to fly it or drive it, and each solution had its own set of issues.

Airman 1st Class Brian Jackson, a 375th LRS logistics planner, received the request from the 618th Air Operations Center (TACC) for a passenger stair truck and AGE equipment, as well as supporting personnel. Jackson immediately notified the 375th Operations Support Squadron to ensure the AGE was available. AGE personnel quickly prepared the electrical cart and air start cart for transport. Within two hours, the AGE and passenger stair truck were ready for transport.

Initially, the 618th AOC believed the only way to get the equipment and personnel in-place in the required time would be to request a C-17 for transport. While they were searching for available aircraft, the LRS Airmen recommended that they drive the equipment to Indiana, saving air transportation costs.

However, this option didn't come without challenges. The sun was setting, and Illinois state law prohibits outsize vehicles from driving on major interstates after sunset. As luck would have it, the passenger stair truck loaded on a low-boy semi-truck is considered an outsize vehicle. But, the team found a way to overcome that obstacle.

Rather than loading the passenger stair truck onto a low-boy tractor/trailer, they would drive it instead. The challenge they faced is that the passenger stair truck is not typically driven on the Interstate. In fact, it's usually only driven from the passenger terminal to the aircraft and back. But this didn't stop the LRS Airmen. In a mere four hours after notification, the Airmen departed for Evansville driving a tractor trailer with the AGE and a 13-foot high passenger staircase truck.

Due to the speed limitations of the passenger staircase truck, a drive that would usually take 2 ½ hours ended up taking 4 ½ hours Despite all the challenges, the team arrived safely and with enough time to position the equipment for the Vice President's aircraft arrival.

"The work on this mission is a perfect example of innovation coming from the bottom up instead of from the top down," said Maj. Gen. Timothy Zadalis, 618th AOC (TACC) commander. "When Airmen see room to improve efficiency and make it happen, we accomplish incredible things."

Although many Airmen contributed to the success of the mission, seven were recognized and received coins from Zadalis for their efforts. Maj. Karen Rupp, 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, added, "It wasn't a one-man show, by any means. This was a team effort between the LRS and OSS and highlights what teamwork and out-of-the-box thinking can accomplish."