AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- A group of reservists from the 71st Aerial Port Squadron from Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, arrived May 2, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, for a two-week training exercise hosted by the 724th Air Mobility Squadron.
As part of their annual tour, the band of 11 aerial porters will observe and participate in various air terminal operations designed to enhance their proficiency in the air transportation career field.
The 71st APS “Port Dawgs” are a geographically separated unit from the 512th Airlift Wing in Dover, Delaware. They are working alongside more than 30 active-duty Airmen from the 724th AMS to gain an in-depth perspective into the small air terminal at the NATO base. Aviano Air Base combines various operational sections including passenger services, cargo processing, load planning, ramp service and special handling.
For Master Sgt. Jimmy Strait, 71st APS team chief, this temporary duty assignment provides a valuable professional growth opportunity for his Airmen.
“This is my first time as a team chief and I’m looking forward to exposing the troops to a small aerial port with combined work centers,” said Strait. “Experiencing full integration with an active-duty squadron as one cohesive unit means we reservists will get a taste of their structure, customs and chain of command.”
The mission will provide training on the processing of personnel and cargo, from one terminal to another, where the reservists will receive hands on active-duty training.
The training with “special handling” cargo is one of the requirements that the aerial port career-field also has. Cargo, such as donated blood for transfusions and high value items, are kept in a secure location and only personnel with training and clearance are allowed to process it for transport.
“I’ve been around for a while and I’ve trained reserves and National Guard,” said Staff Sgt. Perry Hardy, 724th AMS passenger services, supervisor. “Having the reservists here gives the active-duty Airmen a chance to work together.”
During the training, both squadrons will focus not only on their primary job duties, but those of other aspects of air terminal operations. The plan is to teach one another skills that they wouldn’t normally do at their own duty stations.
“Each will have the chance to really focus on what they know to ensure they are doing it accurately,” said 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Gentine, 724th AMS passenger services flight commander. “The timing is perfect, we have some of our personnel out and this will give both reservists and active-duty the chance to learn as much as they teach.”