Kadena’s CDF handles deployment cargo

Photo By Senior Airman Corey Pettis | U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Robert Barlow, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron cargo deployment function journeyman, raises a cargo container for inspection July 20, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The cargo deployment function supervises the inspecting, handling and loading of cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Corey M. Pettis)  

KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JAPAN

07.27.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Corey Pettis 

18th Wing

The Cargo Deployment Function is always ready to support any operation at any time, near and far, at a moment’s notice.

Kadena’s CDF is the middle man for all cargo leaving the 18th Wing in support of operations around the world.

“We support Kadena's mission of counter air, air refueling, command and control, and combat search and rescue capabilities by processing deployment cargo,” said MSgt. Charles Smilinich, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron cargo deployment function superintendent. “We are responsible for everything from receiving, check-in, inspection, marshalling, load planning, manifest, and supervising cargo loading.”

The Airmen at the CDF have to be ready for anything, as they can be called into action with very little notice.

“Depending on the priority of the mission, we can execute 18th Wing requirements with as little as 20 minute’s notification or as much as months in advance,” said Smilinich.

The vast majority of the cargo the CDF handles is related to launching jets from downrange locations. Though, they do handle other special mission cargo.

They also frequently handle equipment such as off road vehicles, watercraft, air defense artillery equipment, and humanitarian relief aid.

Like the CDF, the Personnel Deployment Function tends to the people aspect of a deployment.

“The PDF works directly with military members only, traveling on organic aircraft,” said Tech. Sgt. James Anderson, 18th LRS passenger travel NCO in charge.

Organic aircraft, usually a C-17, is any military-owned aircraft the Air Force has purchased for a specific movement.

On the day of departure, a five-member teams stands up the PDF line at the Passenger Terminal. The team checks passengers in to the flight, verifies identification and copies of orders. The PDF also accounts for the weight of the people and any carry-on items. This makes the process almost the same as traveling commercially.
After, the PDF accounts for the weight of the people and any carry-on items.

The last portion of the PDF line is baggage check. They palletize all bags onto an air pallet, strap the items down with nettings and account for the weight.

“After the count has been completed, we will manifest all passengers into our Cargo Movement Operations System, which when released, will send a digital signature to U. S. Transportation Command,” said Anderson. “From there USTRANSCOM can monitor the flight, from point A to Point B,”

Both the CDF and the PDF work hard to ensure that people and cargo get to their destination.

“Although it is a small piece of the puzzle that is Team Kadena, it's an integral part of being a strategic forward base and allows the United States military the ability to facilitate bilateral and multilateral engagements where and when its needed,” said Smilinich.

• Date Taken: 07.27.2016
• Date Posted: 07.27.2016 01:46
• Story ID: 205162
• Location: KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP