Bagram Airmen recover hundreds of pallets

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BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  The numbers 88- by -108 by -2.25 inches and 290 pounds represent lifeblood for the Air Force’s logistics readiness officers and air transporters.

They are the measurements of a pallet type used to carry combat supplies in and out of war zones … and they are “wanted.”

A critical shortage of these pallets arose and Air Mobility Command officials began an effort to find and return as many of them and their netting as possible.

“We took AMC’s worldwide call for pallets to heart,” said Brig. Gen. James Hunt, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. “It’s easy to forget that mobility movement is not complete until pallets and nets are returned to the mobility system for reuse in future missions.”

Maj. Rich Fillman, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron commander said he noticed the pallets were being used for everything from bunker tops, decks, bridges and long-term storage platforms, so his squadron’s Airmen started collecting these pallets.

The squadron’s efforts achieved instant results. Within the first two weeks, 186 pallets with 399 top and side nets were returned.

To help in the collection process, the squadron Airmen created a wanted poster and sent it every Department of Defense organization within the theater.

The local effort turned into an Operation Enduring Freedom-wide initiative to support Air Mobility Command, officials said.

“Our phone rang off the hook,” said Captain Jason Kalin, the squadron’s operations officer.

“Communication was the primary problem,” Major Fillman said. “Many people didn’t know what to do with these pallets, and no one was telling them; our campaign got the word out.”

Since the project began, the Airmen located more than 1,030 pallets and 3,550 top and side nets worth $1.7 million.

“This effort has paid off in a big way already,” said General Hunt, “and we’re just getting started.” (Courtesy of the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group)