AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --
Since May 2, a group of aerial porters from the 71st Aerial Port Squadron, a geographically separated unit from the 512th Airlift Wing, have
been cross-training in various sections of the air transportation career field.
Almost as soon as they arrived in Italy, the “port dawgs” from Joint Base Langley-Eustis Virginia, have worked alongside their active-duty
counterparts at the 724th Air Mobility Squadron. The hosting organization, 724th AMS based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, has earned eight
awards in the past 12 years for its excellence in small air terminal operations.
Assigned to sections different than their specialties, reservists were obtaining refresher training or performing unfamiliar tasks in combined
sections of the Air Transportation Operational Center, Passenger Services or Air Freight.
“Back in Virginia, my job as a load planner requires skills in math and attention to detail in order to ensure the flights are loaded in accordance
with hazardous materials and defense travel regulations,” said Senior Airman Andrew Castro, 71st APS. “Here, I’m assigned to Cargo and
Passenger Services, which are different roles that involve manually loading the plane or personally escorting the passengers to the aircraft.”
A special handling supervisor back home, Tech. Sgt. William Jacobs has been assigned to the Cargo Services section for the duration of this
training tour. One of the challenges he has been facing is coordinating the movement of cargo in and around the terminal warehouse with
Italian nationals who don’t speak English as their primary language.
Tech. Sgt. William Jacobs (right), special handling supervisor withthe71st Aerial Port Squadron, discusses
measurements of cargo crates with a local Italian employee at the 724th Air Mobility Squadron's Air Freight
section, Aviano Air Base, Italy, May 11, 2016. Jacobs and his fellow aerial porters had to overcome language
barriers to successfully accomplish daily tasks around the air terminal during his unit's job proficiency
enhancement training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Joe Yanik)
“There is clearly a language barrier that exists between us and the local Italian nationals who operate the heavy cargo equipment at the air
terminal,” said Jacobs. “But, we all make it work. Hand gestures certainly help.”
The training mission centers on strengthening proficiency in a small air terminal that combines operational sections. Jacobs, Castro and
other reservists have also had an opportunity to broaden their horizons off-duty by participating in various activities, like traveling throughout
northern Italy, experiencing local culture and hiking in the Pre-Carnic Alps that surround the base.
In his free time, Castro spends a great deal traveling with a dictionary in one hand and a camera firmly grasped by the other. Using the former,
he is able to chat with the natives; with the latter, he captures all of the colors, angles and aspects of Italy that catch his eye.
“There’s incredibly rich history here,” he said. “There’s a lot to photograph, especially the architecture.”
Senior Airman Andrew Castro, 71st Aerial Port Squadron, focuses his camera on something that catches his
eye May 11, 2016, Aviano Air Base, Italy. Castro is participating in job proficiency enhancement training during
his unit’s annual training during the duty day and is photographing his trip during his free time. (U.S. Air Force
photo/Staff Sgt. Joe Yanik)
Like Castro, Jacobs too finds opportunity in his free time to expand his mind. But for the newly-married father of two, he means this more in
an academic sense rather than a cultural one.
“Two or three times, I’ve had to stay back in my hotel room instead of exploring with the others, so I can work on my Ph.D. in human resources management,” said Jacobs. “I look forward to one day in the next 10 years or so to becoming a college professor while also buying into my
own franchise maybe a (coffee shop) or something like that.”
Both Jacobs and Castro said they understand the importance of the job proficiency enhancing opportunity that their tour at Aviano AB
presents for improving their knowledge of and performance in the Air Force’s air transportation career field.
“I see the greater mission of the air transportation career field,” said Castro. “I get a lot of satisfaction of playing a role in ensuring warfighters
down range are getting what they need and the members on emergency leave are getting home to their families. People are really counting
on us to get the job done right.”