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PAX terminal processes record-breaking numbers

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  The Transit Center at Manas passenger terminal broke a record this month when they processed more than 4,200 U.S. and coalition forces coming in and out of Afghanistan May 16, 2010.

Now, the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron PAX terminal is on track to break another record for the month - processing more than 50,200 passengers, a record set in March. If the current pace keeps up, they may even hit an all-time high of 60,000.

"We're basically like an airport," said Tech. Sgt. Wayne Shouse, the 376th ELRS vehicle control officer. "We run the whole terminal the way an airport at home does. We are the Transportation Security Administration; we gate them; we try to find Space-A and Space-R passengers flights; and we cater snacks, food and drinks."

This month's high passenger numbers were due to the fact that it's "rotation month," said Tech. Sgt. William Willoughby, the 376th ELRS day shift PAX supervisor. Air Force, Army, and Marine forces are rotating through the AOR, and since Manas is the "gateway to Afghanistan."

They're so use to seeing thousands of people each day that they can almost instantly tell if military members are going downrange or returning home.

"When they're going home, they're cheerful, relaxed, even humble," Sergeant Willoughby said. At the end of their rotation, they have usually seen a lot of sobering things and are grateful to be returning home.

"On their way downrange, they're quieter. Some are very young, and don't know what to expect. Some even look a little scared," he said.

Both NCOs really enjoy talking to all their passengers, hearing their stories and treating them like distinguished visitors.

"I try to talk to as many people as possible," said Sergeant Willoughby. I love meeting and interacting with people from different countries and different states."

"It makes me feel like I'm making a difference," Sergeant Shouse agreed. "We can't do our job without them. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be here."

The most difficult part of the job is taking care of passengers who are coming home the "bad way."

"We help out with some human remains missions," Sergeant Willoughby said. "We go out to help get passengers off the plane before the HR portion, and sometimes we drive them back."

It's really tough, Sergeant Shouse said.

"The hardest part is knowing that we were probably the ones who sent that person downrange," he said. "It could have been someone we talked to and processed just three or four months ago."

But regardless of who their passengers are or how they are coming or going, their professionalism and dedication to their jobs is what makes processing record-breaking numbers of passengers just part of another day's work for this team of 35.

"We like it when it's busy," Sergeant Shouse said. "Everyone knows their jobs, so everything just goes smoothly."

And when they are saying their goodbyes to bus loads of Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, they make sure to recognize their "VIPs" and thank them for their service.

"We usually get a lot of hoorahs from the Marines," Sergeant Willoughby said with a smile. "We know that we had a part of the mission, but they're the real heroes."