Photo By Tech. Sgt. Shelby Thurman | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Heath Ezelle, 25th Aerial Port Squadron air transportation...... read more read more
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The caravan of bundle-laden forklifts led the way to the flight line, en route to a C-130 Hercules that was scheduled for an air drop training mission, July 11, 2020, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
These forklifts were being piloted by none other than the air transportation specialists of the 25th Aerial Port Squadron. The purpose of this mission was for the 908th Operations Group to have an exercise in airdropping one heavy equipment platform and one Container Delivery System bundle. But it could not be done unless they enlisted the help of 25th APS.
Technical Sgt. Heath Ezelle, 25th APS air transportation specialist, described his job as being pretty involved in the 908th Airlift Wing’s entire mission. Their job focuses on using large trucks or other equipment to transport troops, equipment or personnel to their destination.
“From weapons to life support, we ship it all,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Jahnsen, 25th APS air transportation specialist.
Once the air transportation specialists delivered their cargo they then assisted the 357th Airlift Squadron loadmasters in strapping it down in the aircraft, said Tech. Sgt. Eric McKenzie, 357th Airlift Squadron loadmaster.
After their delivery is secured, they head off to their next task: getting ready for recovery.
The air transportation specialists zoomed away in their forklift brigade to switch out for trucks, tractor trailers. Once acquired, their caravan set off for Buzz drop zone near Autaugaville, Alabama.
After kicking up plenty of dust on the dirt road to the drop zone they waded through the thigh-high grass in wait for their delivery.
Ezell said that seeing the aircraft take off, drop their bundles and then land safely made the job feel rewarding.
It is this hard work that the members of the 25th APS provide that is vital for the 908th AW’s mission as well as all other Department of Defense missions.
Jahnsen said that their job is “incredibly important” and that without them, nothing would be loaded on or off an aircraft.
“If we didn’t do this then the aircrews couldn’t get their training done and they wouldn’t be able to get qualified for their missions”, said Tech. Sgt. Ethan Smith, 25th APS air transportation specialist.
This one mission is a reminder that it takes a wing full of Airmen for just one mission to be accomplished. Without Airmen that are dedicated to their craft and inspired by the importance of their job then there would be no 908th AW.
“It’s really nice to see that your hard work actually goes to something,” said Tech. Sgt. Courtney Murphy, 25th APS air transportation specialist.
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 12.29.2020 12:45 |
| Story ID: | 385903 |
| Location: | MONTGOMERY, US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Big Trucks, Big Aircraft, Even Bigger Mission, by TSgt Shelby Thurman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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