Joint Base Lewis-McChord air transportation Airman keeps OEF mission moving in Kyrgyzstan

Published Aug. 24, 2010
By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Airman 1st Class Heriberto Dominguez is an air transportation journeyman assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, as a passenger service agent.

Airman Dominguez is deployed from Air Mobility Command's 62nd Aerial Port Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. As a deployed air transportation Airman, Airman Dominguez supports all aerial port operations for the 376th AEW.

Air transportation Airmen, or aerial porters, like Airman Dominguez are trained to be able to move cargo, passengers, or both on a moment's notice. Each air transportation Airman deployed, including Airman Dominguez, has to maintain a myriad of skills and job knowledge.

According to the official Air Force job description for the air transportation career field, they 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.

Airman Dominguez' deployed unit ensures the safe and efficient upload and download of cargo and personnel on all organic and contracted aircraft to the base. To do the heavy lifting, they use specific material handling equipment such as forklifts capable of lifting upwards of 10,000 pounds of cargo and aircraft cargo loaders which are capable of holding pallets and cargo weighing up to 25,000 and 60,000 pounds. The loaders, when filled with cargo, are driven out to the aircraft, the deck is raised hydraulically, and powered rollers on the loader push the cargo on board the plane.

In directing air transportation activities, aerial porters like Airman Dominguez 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 Dominguez 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 Dominguez 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.

Additionally, according to 376th AEW Public Affairs, 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.