Pushing freight

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Gates | Staff Sgt. Joe Lankford, left, and Staff Sgt. Elston Robinson, 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, push a baggage pallet into the back of a C-130.  

ALI BASE, IRAQ

05.22.2006

Courtesy Story

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ALI BASE, Iraq -- In the heart of a combat environment, speed and accuracy are key " even more so when it comes to an aircraft. And though most cargo aircraft are relatively agile when in the air, they are not while ground bound.

One team's mission at Ali Base is to make sure those aircraft stay on the ground for as short a time as necessary, and when they do take off, that the aircraft is packed with cargo.

That 12-person team, the Air Terminal Operations Center, works around the clock to move passengers and cargo on and off the C-17s and C-130s which transit Ali " moving more than 700 tons of cargo and 4,000 passengers each month, according to Staff Sgt. Gregory Steffers, 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron load planner.

"Our mission is to meet each aircraft and provide them with top service," he said. "We expedite all downloading and uploading procedures and get these aircraft back in the air. When we have no planes on the ground, we prepare cargo to be moved out, and transfer inbound cargo to distribution agencies."

As a load planner, Sergeant Steffers makes sure that each aircraft is fully used. He starts with each aircraft's configuration " the physical number of seats available and the cargo configuration. He also has to take into consideration the passengers and cargo "booked" by Air Mobility Command on the mission " certain "must-move" cargo. After he determines what is left, he can move any remaining cargo or passengers waiting for the first available aircraft.

"My goal is to make sure each aircraft leaves here full," he said.

The load planning aspect of the center is a highlight for another 407th ELRS member, Staff Sgt. Joe Lankford, deployed here from Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

"This is a great part of the job " I enjoy being in the middle of it all and solving problems," he said.

The ATOC is in the middle of a spike of passenger moves, as nearly all the Air Force people at Ali will rotate within the next few weeks " although the Air Force moves will not put a big dent in the average 4,000 passengers the center moves monthly.

"We have a group of people who excel in their job " that makes it easy," said Sergeant Steffers. "We do the same thing every day."

One of those people is Senior Airman Randy Walgren, who, like Sergeant Lankford, is deployed from Altus.

"I help achieve the mission because of my attitude and knowledge," he said. "A big impact is the other members of the team " everyone in the ATOC helps, because we work as a team. Our mission here is more challenging than at home because here we are making a direct contribution to the Global War on Terrorism. Being at Ali allows me to be more exposed to all the aspects of my job."

Sergeant Lankford agrees. "My home station is a training base and we help train loadmasters with cargo " here, we can see how the operation works. We load cargo and passengers with a purpose. This is real!"

Working a real mission, and getting exposed to all aspects of the job make it worthwhile to Sergeant Steffers, as well. "It's not uncommon for the same person to check in cargo, build it onto a pallet and then load it on the aircraft " often, these tasks are conducted by different work centers at home."

Other differences between operations at Ali and at home are night operations, the occasional dust storms limiting visibility, and the heat " with temperatures climbing into the low 100's during the day, often the three logistics specialists may "feel the burn" more than at home stations.

"It seems pretty warm when standing out on the ramp, and when working behind a running C-130, the temperatures double," Sergeant Steffers jokes. "Well, it feels like they do, anyway."

Despite those hot temperatures, the three feel very proud to be involved in operations at Ali, especially when considering the eventual impact " a democratic Iraq.

"Democracy seems to work for us," said Sergeant Lankford. "I would like to see everyone with the same benefits as Americans."

Airman Walgren is much more specific. "I am definitely eager to help build a democratic Iraq. There are too many good people in Iraq striving for help. I see how the people here live and I would never want anyone I know to live like that. I feel everyone has the right to vote and have freedom."

With those ideals motivating them, they and other members of the ATOC team ensure that equipment and cargo quickly move in and out of the base " despite the heat, dust and darkness.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2006
• Date Posted: 05.22.2006 09:05
• Story ID: 6444
• Location: ALI BASE, IQ