Aerial porters help demonstrate new transportation concepts

  • Published
  • By Maj. Chris Allen
  • U.S. Transportation Command
MCGUIRE AFB, N.J. (AFPN) --  Airmen from the 305th Aerial Port Squadron here recently played a major role in helping U.S. Transportation Command officials assess joint modular intermodal distribution, or JMIDS, concepts. Through JMIDS, USTRANSCOM officials seek greater efficiency in delivering cargo to the warfighter while reducing the risks Soldiers face on the road during conflict.

USTRANSCOM is the operational manager for the congressionally approved $36 million Department of Defense JMIDS joint capabilities technology demonstration. The 305th APS Airmen helped demonstrate successfully that a modular intermodal platform with cargo can be loaded onto an aircraft at a built up air base, then flown to an austere airstrip and unloaded by a prototype tactical truck. 

This means cargo can go directly to the point of employment without the need for onsite material-handling equipment. Intermodal means cargo can be shipped by air, land or sea. The use of the intermodal platforms also eliminates the need for cargo pallets.

Master Sgt. Dan Borchelt, 305th APS, directed the preparation and loading of eight cargo containers onto a joint modular intermodal platform for transport on a KC-130 from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 452 in Newburgh, N.Y. The KC-130 flew more than seven hours across the country to deliver the load to the U.S. Army National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.

Upon landing, Soldiers at the training center loaded the components from the aircraft onto the prototype tactical vehicle, then delivered the supplies directly to where they were needed.

The Soldiers working with the JMIDS components said the system improved efficiency and expanded capability by reducing the use of platforms and trucks. That means fewer soldiers on the road exposed to extreme risk in the battle space.

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

Click here to view the comments/letters page