LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- “Our aerial porters are a critical link throughout the AOR [area of responsibility],” said Lt. Col. Jeffry Haynes, 96 APS Commander. “Right now we have a team of 7 troops who hit the ground running and were recognized as the Team of the Month by the commander for streamlining processes.”
The 7-man team, consisting of Master Sgt. Tobey Pruitt, Tech. Sgts. Robert Davis & Bradley Johnson, Staff Sgt. Jerome Nunley, Senior Airmen Jacob Carmichael and Kelvin Mwaniki, is assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Logistic Readiness Squadron at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The team’s primary deployed mission is to support the rotation of fighter squadrons in that area of operations. Haynes emphasized that the movement of passengers, aircraft and equipment are in direct support of lethal airpower across the Levant.
“The entire aerial port mission at that location is executed by a handful of 96 APS personnel, who hustle through a 24/7 sortie cycle in adverse conditions,” said Haynes. “Their work ethic shows you can’t tell the difference between active duty and reserve personnel.”
The air transportation specialists, or aerial porters, are a mix of fulltime and traditional reservists who provide logistical support to all military aircraft systems. These responsibilities include managing passengers, cargo load planning, loading and unloading cargo and equipment. Aerial ports are knowledgeable in different types of aircraft, its capabilities, configurations, aircraft weight and balance factors.