Homestead aerial porters support hurrricane relief

Air transportation specialists from the 482nd Mission Support Group’s 70th Aerial Port Squadron loaded 25,000 pounds of United States Agency for International Development relief supplies on a U.S. Air Force C-130 destined for Nicaragua in the early morning hours on Sept. 8. The airlift mission was part of a broader United States Southern Command operation to address the humanitarian needs in communities affected by Hurricane Felix, and the relief supplies consisted of 140 rolls of plastic sheeting, hygiene kits capable of supporting a family of five for up to two weeks and wool blankets. The Air Force Reserve air transportation specialists are responsible for inspecting, documenting, packaging, and loading and unloading cargo on aircraft. They regularly deploy in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and to augment other aerial port squadrons throughout the Air Force.