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M-ATVs transit Kyrgyzstan on their way downrange

Photo By Master Sgt. Nichelle Griffiths | Tech. Sgt. Antonio Munoz, NCOIC and instructor loadmaster from the Transit Center C-17...... read more read more

MANAS AIR BASE, KYRGYZSTAN

01.21.2010

Courtesy Story

376th Air Expeditionary Wing

By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan -- The operations tempo at the Transit Center at Manas tends to always be busy with providing humanitarian assistance, fuel for coalition aircraft and transiting coalition forces and cargo.

Part of that cargo now includes mine-resistant, ambush-protected, all-terrain vehicles.

"They're basically a suped-up version of the humvee, except they're more durable, with better armor," said Tech. Sgt. Matt Sollars, 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron non-commissioned officer in charge of the air terminal operations center. "What we're doing is shipping them to Afghanistan to support Marines."

According to a Defense Magazine report from 2009 - when the vehicles started to come off the manufacturer's belt - the M-ATVs are needed because of "the lack of established roads, primarily in Afghanistan, severely restricting protected mobility and maneuverability of troops."

"This project is probably one of the most vital that the Air Force has undertaken since [Manas] opened in 2001," Sollars said.

In the last week alone, the 376th ELRS spent more than 24 hours off-loading M-ATVs from commercial shipments and onto C-17s here on the flightline.

"The big difference between the M-ATVs and the humvees are they're a lot bigger, stronger, better resistant, and better protected," said the 16-year Air Force veteran deployed from McChord Air Force Base, Washington.

It takes a significant amount of effort to get them off the planes, according to Senior Airman Stephen Conlon, 376th ELRS aerial porter.

"It takes three to six guys who download them with a 60K loader on Transit-2 palates," he said.

Ultimately, the time and effort spent here to get the vehicles where they need to be is well worth their while.

"As far as job satisfaction, this is off the charts," said the former intelligence specialist from McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. Although he didn't know anything about air terminal operations when the time came for him to re-train, Conlon now thinks it's one of the best jobs in the Air Force.

"I know I'm sending down armor-plated vehicles to our Marines," he said. "We're keeping the dream alive and keeping the mission going. These guys are going to rest a little easier knowing they are up-armored better."