"Port Dawgs" keep cargo, people moving

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Whether it's cargo or passengers, the Air Terminal Operations and Passenger Travel Section of the 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron keep things moving.

The section, which is housed in Eglin's Readiness Center, provides a critical service to units here, including the 7th Special Forces Group (A).  Units can't move cargo or deploy troops without their help.

The section's primary responsibility is to load and offload cargo and passengers to and from aircraft that land here.  It's not unusual for C-5s, -17s, or -130s to arrive with tons of equipment or to stand ready to accept a load for delivery to an overseas location. The crew also inspects the cargo to ensure it meets safety of flight standards as designated in the regulations.

According to Amy Taitague, section chief, the section's "Port Dawgs" support a full spectrum of joint operations ranging from 7 SFG rotations to the training mission of the Joint Strike Fighter program. The Navy's air logistics mission supplies key customers , transporting trainees of the F-35C Lightning variant.

"Sometimes there's not enough cargo to fill a mission and cargo is aggregated or combined from other bases going to the same location," Taitague said.  "That location is usually overseas in support of deployment missions or exercises."

Air transportation supervisor Tech Sgt. Courtney Lindenmuth said cargo sometimes comes from locations not far from Eglin, such as Tyndall,  Robins, Lackland and Patrick AFB. At times, the cargo is unusual.

"We've loaded staircase trucks for presidential support and a World War II gun that was going to the AF Museum at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio," she said.

Taitague said the section has to be flexible.  Often mission times change and sometimes there's not much notice as to when a plane might arrive; a C-5 expected from Ramstein, Germany, was recently delayed a few weeks.  That sometimes leads to a challenge as load teams can be scheduled to work a mission with very short notice. 

Working with the 7th is more predictable; section leaders meet with the Soldiers who can forecast out their rotations.  On the AF side, requirements flow from units requiring support that are staffed through Eglin's Deployment Control Center.  The section moves an average of 160 tons of cargo and 570+ passengers per month, either through deployment or the Space Available Travel program.

Working weekends, holidays and after normal duty hours is not unusual for the 27 military and civilians assigned to the section.  A standard load team consists of six to seven people, and with two stand-by teams, they cover the operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The section utilizes unique equipment to accomplish the mission. 

It takes two weeks of formal training to become qualified to operate the Tunner 60K Aircraft Cargo Loader, a mobile vehicle system that can transport up to six pallets of cargo, and the Halvorsen Loader which can transport three pallets and lift up to 25,000 pounds of cargo.

Staff Sgt. Grant Gammons, who has been loading equipment for 10 years, said "the training is not difficult, but it takes quite a bit of experience to become proficient on the equipment."

While moving cargo and space required passengers is critical, maximum aircraft utilization is equally important.  The Space-A program is a benefit to uniformed service members, Medal of Honor recipients, retirees and dependents. The program allows passengers meeting those criteria to occupy surplus DoD aircraft seats on an established priority basis.  

Flight information can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 850-882-2488, extension 1 for a voice announcement or through the "Eglin Passenger Terminal" Facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/EglinSpaceA.

"In 2012, we were first in command to come on line with a Facebook page that advertises available flights 72-hours out," Lindenmuth said.  "Social media really benefits us, as well as our customers. The page is updated twice a day or more, depending on a mission."

Lindenmuth said passengers must have enough funds to get back home in the event a return Space-A flight is not available. Passengers show up for a flight at the designated show time, and although there's not a guarantee, most passengers are accommodated with an open seat. They undergo the same manifesting and security screening procedures as if at the local airport. 

"It's a great DoD benefit and a great option to go to Hawaii or Alaska," she said. "There are seats when planes are coming back from a forward operating location and then the planes need to return to their home base."

Taitague is excited when she talks about mission and the many accomplishments of the section, but she's most proud of the solid operation of their team and the people who work hard day in and day out.

"We're about compliance and safety of flight.  If you're safe and compliant, everything else will fall into place," she said.