Photo By Staff Sgt. Tony Ritter | United States Air Force Airman 1st Class Alexander Faulkner, 407th Expeditionary...... read more read more
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ALI BASE, Iraq - When most people hear TMO, the Traffic Management Office, they associate it with a permanent change of station. The TMO on Ali Base, Iraq, does much more than move furniture. The six-person TMO flight processes all cargo that is transported by air or ground moving through Ali Base.
"We direct the receiving and packaging of Air Force items for shipment and storage," said Tech. Sgt. John Ritz, TMO NCOIC. "By receiving all cargo we verify that the items being received are in good condition as well as the proper quantity that the customer ordered. We also ensure that the items are delivered in the necessary time to complete the mission."
TMO is on the front line of support for Ali Base personnel by directing all parts, equipment, supplies, food and everything else that comes off of the plane that is needed on base. TMO works hand-in-hand with Army MCT, Aerial Port, FedEx, DHL and National Air Cargo to meet demands on base.
"We move everything so it is able to get where it needs to go in a timely manner," said Airman 1st Class Alexander Faulkner, TMO traffic manager deployed from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N. D.
On average, more than 500 inbound pieces that weigh in excess of 233,000 pounds move through Ali Base each month.
Outbound items such as broken parts, vehicles or aircraft parts are common items that move through TMO. About 150 outbound items exceeding 305,000 pounds leave each month.
"Recently we have been packaging and sending equipment to Afghanistan for the RED HORSE squadron who will be relocating there," said Airman Faulkner who hails from Franklin, Pa.
Heavy equipment such as RED HORSE paving equipment that was used for the C-130J bed down at Kandahar have been sent to Afghanistan already and dump trucks are scheduled to be delivered soon.
Dealing with the unexpected, not having the extra amenities available and adapting to an unusual terrain adds some difficulty in a deployed setting, he added.
"The job is definitely more difficult in a deployed environment," said Sgt. Ritz who is a Virginia Beach, Va., native. "With aircraft routinely having weather issues, cancellations and the Iraqi air ministry cancelling our commercial carriers, we're always developing 'work a rounds' to get cargo in and out of Ali Base."
Although the Army and Air Force work separately from each other ensuring their items get where they need to go on base, the Air Force lends a hand when they can.
Having a limited number of Hazardous Declaration Shippers on base allows Airman Faulkner, an HDS, to assist other branches of service in completeing their mission.
"We are able to help other branches of service that need us to handle hazardous declarations," said Airman Faulkner. "We deal with all kinds of hazardous declarations such as engines, batteries, ammunition and vehicles."
Other than HazDec items TMO also assists the Army with storing blood and urine samples that are flown to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, or Landsthul Regional Medical Center, Germany, for testing.
Even though TMO is only a six person team the affect they have is felt by every servicemember on base.
"We ensure that all supplies and assets needed by the base populace are received in a timely manner to achieve the mission and boost morale," said Sgt. Ritz.
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.21.2009 06:51 |
| Story ID: | 37778 |
| Location: | ALI BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 490 |
| Downloads: | 364 |
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