Teamwork keeps Sather Air Base's passenger terminal moving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sanjay Allen
  • Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  As servicemembers in Iraq prepare to transition from combat operations to an advise and assist role, members of the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here continue to support the drawdown through continuing 24-hour operations. The Airmen process up to 20,000 passengers and 1,200 tons of cargo a month through Iraq's main aerial hub.

Redeploying thousands of troops and transiting hundreds more while supporting additional airlift and cargo movement requirements can often prove challenging for Airmen in deployed locations.

Staff Sgt. Austin Diaz, an air transporter at the Baghdad Passenger Terminal, explained how the three sections all work together to make sure people and cargo get to their destinations on time.

He said the passenger counter staff members, track and move passengers; the baggage section staff members collect baggage and palletize it; and the gate staff members move the passengers to and from the gate and aircraft.

"With multiple aircraft coming in, it's a little bit difficult, but we manage our people so that we can handle all the mission workload all at once," Sergeant Diaz said. "It gets a little bit difficult sometimes, but in the end, we get everybody out on time."

Being able to make sure everything gets out on time requires the Airmen in the three sections to work as a team.

"It's all about teamwork," said Senior Master Sgt. Ara Shishmanian, the aerial port dayshift superintendent. "It's all about being able to anticipate, respond to the mission and make sure that we're on target and we're on the ball throughout our shift time."