Aerial port scores high marks during inspection

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lou Burton
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Reservists from the 70th Aerial Port Squadron made history and scored high marks by successfully completing the first homeland defense operational readiness inspection at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss.

"Usually an ORI has units deploy to simulated overseas bases and defend against conventional military forces. However, this one required participants to work along-side supporting civil authorities while fighting in the United States," said Capt. John Weeks, ORI Team Lead.

In addition to being part of history, the 70th APS is celebrating its success as well.

"The Air Mobility Command Inspector General rendered an "excellent" rating in every category," said Lt. Col. Diana Echols, 70th Ariel Port Squadron commander. "This showed what a great job our senior leadership did in preparing for this ORI."

Air Force aerial port squadron's provide the backbone for military aerial logistical functions including processing personnel and cargo, rigging for airdrop, packing parachutes; loading equipment, preparing air cargo and load plans, loading and securing aircraft; ejecting cargo for in-flight delivery, and supervising units engaged in aircraft loading and unloading operations.

"Planning started in February of 2009. Senior Master Sgt. George Welch, Senior Noncommissioned Officer Team Lead, was pivotal in developing training for the ORI," said Capt. Weeks.

"It really helped that some of our senior leadership had ORI experience when they were Airmen," said Lt. Col. Echols. "It provided leadership with a wealth of experience."

During the Haiti earthquake relief mission, ORI members volunteered to help the relief effort for Operation Unified Response.

"The ORI can sometimes be treated like a game, something that has an abstract meaning. The Haiti relief mission really showed how we could be called upon at any time to do our job at a moment's notice," Weeks said. "It also gave us more of a practical understanding of what we were training for-it helped get us into a routine."

"In a fighter wing we rarely get this type of real world experience, so along with feeling good for helping those in need, we were also able to reap the benefits of real-world experience, " Weeks continued to say.

During the ORI, the 70th APS completed 42 missions. The unit processed 1,112 passengers, 102 pallets of cargo and 48 baggage pallets totaling more than of 466,000 pounds.

The ORI participants were not only comprised of 70th APS personnel, members from the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard and the 317th Airlift Group from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas participated as well.

"It was amazing to see how well everyone worked together. It was as though we were doing this job together for years," said Master Sgt. Barry Greeson, Air Freight Noncommissioned Officer In-Charge.

"Also, we couldn't have done it without the support of the 482nd Fighter Wing. They got us out of town clean," said Lt. Col. Echols.

Interestingly enough, members of the 70th APS will put their skills to use very soon.

"Almost all of the people involved in the ORI are deploying to Afghanistan in the near future," said Master Sgt. Pedro Tirado, Passenger Services Noncommissioned Officer In-Charge.