Air transportation Airmen support Japan relief operations

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) --  On March 11, an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan and a tsunami followed, creating widespread destruction throughout the country.

Within a short time, U.S. service members were gearing up to support a response, and air transportation Airmen, also known as aerial porters, were no exception.

Aerial porters are among the busiest Airmen at Misawa Air Base, Japan. They have been building cargo pallets and moving cargo 24 hours a day to keep humanitarian relief operations moving wherever it's needed.

Also, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, aerial porters from the 735th Air Mobility Squadron were busy March 12 loading generators and related cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III that was heading to Japan.

The plane departed quickly, and a squadron commander, who was on temporary duty to Hawaii, was able to return to his home station of Yokota Air Base, Japan.

"Today I'm proud to be in the U.S. Air Force," said Lt. Col. Rocky Favorito, the 374th Communications Squadron commander, who returned to Yokota AB with humanitarian aid in tow.

At Misawa AB, aerial porters like Airman 1st Class Ryan Lloyd, of the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron, are working to move cargo belonging to search-and-rescue personnel arriving in Japan. Aerial porters at Misawa have received numerous aircraft, from civilian airliners to C-17s, and are continuing 24-hour operations as more and more cargo and people flow in from around the world.

These air transportation Airmen are doing exactly what they are trained to do.

According to their official Air Force job description, aerial porters 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, and fleet service functions.

In directing air transportation activities, aerial porters supplement policies and direct supervisors to provide cargo and passenger loading and unloading services.

They are 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.

Aerial porters may be busier than normal right now, but many said they see it as just doing their job and they are happy to support the effort.

"This is a good thing -- getting this equipment loaded on the plane," said Tech. Sgt. Jared Cunningham, who is assigned to the 89th Aerial Port Squadron. "This is good work, because you know it's going to help the people in Japan."

(Master Sgt. Jeff Capenos, of 89th Airlift Wing Public Affairs and Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs contributed to this report.)