Mobility Airman profile: Joint Base Lewis-McChord Airman supports aerial port ops in Kyrgyzstan

Published Jan. 7, 2011
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- In the air transportation business for the U.S. Air Force, every Airman involved in the process has an important role. On deployment, the importance of that role increases even more when you are directly supporting warfighters on the front lines - or getting them to the front lines.

For Senior Airman John Malubag, an air transportation journeyman deployed with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron as a logistics planner at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, he's proud to be part of a "great team" that supports Operation Enduring Freedom.

"I enjoy being able to work with a great team here at Manas," Airman Malubag said in a news report from 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs in December. "Everyone is able to look out for and help each other out."

Airman Malubag, who is deployed from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., said his daily work involves the movement of people.

"I manifest Air Force personnel going down range as well as members returning home," he said in the news report. "I make sure they get to their destination in a timely manner."

In addition to preparing manifests for deployed personnel, Airman Malubag, whose hometown is Virginia Beach, Va., is trained in much more. According to the official Air Force job description for the air transportation career field, air transportation Airmen like Airman Malubag must maintain mandatory job knowledge in passenger and cargo movement functions to include transport aircraft types, capabilities and configuration. They must also know weight and balance factors, airlift transportation directives and documentation, cargo securing techniques, border clearance requirements, operation of materials handling and other types of loading equipment or devices, fleet service functions.

In directing air transportation activities, aerial porters like Airman Malubag supplement policies and direct supervisory personnel to provide cargo and passenger loading and unloading services. He is trained to establish procedures for passenger and aircraft clearance through international border clearance agencies and to inspect airlift activities for compliance with directives, the job description states.

Airman Malubag is also trained to verify eligibility of cargo and mail offered for airlift and to review passenger travel authorizations for validity and accuracy. He also ensures all cargo documentation, packaging, labeling and marking requirements, and all border clearance requirements have been met. He provides information on schedules, routes, air movement requirements, baggage limitations and local facilities for passengers and requisitions, stores and issues expendable and nonexpendable items for use on aircraft.

Aerial porters like Airman Malubag can check in passengers and process, schedule, transport and escort passengers to and from aircraft. They determine quantity and type of cargo to be loaded according to allowable aircraft cabin load and they check cargo against manifests, and annotate overage, shortage or damage.

In whatever he's called to do, Airman Malubag said he's happy to support deployed operations.

"I feel great about my contributions to the Manas mission," Airman Malubag said. "It is a pleasure making sure the troops get downrange and back home in a timely manner."

The Transit Center at Manas was activated in December 2001 when coalition forces deployed to Manas International Airport and began supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force after the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the 376th AEW fact sheet states. The base continues to promote regional stability in Central Asia.

At his home station with the 62nd AW, Airman Malubag supports a mission to "deliver global airlift, focused logistics and agile combat support for America," the wing's fact sheet states. The 62nd AW is part of Air Mobility Command and "provides the Department of Defense a fast, flexible and responsive airlift capability." The 62nd AW, together with its Air Force Reserve associate wing, the 446th Airlift Wing, provides a large part of AMC's global reach airlift capability.

(376th AEW Public Affairs contributed to this report.)