ATOC Airmen move tons on Camp Bastion

Senior Airman Travis Dupuy, Air Terminal Operation Center ramp controller, reverses in a 60K deck loader with the mail run from a DC8 aircraft at Camp Bastion, Jan. 20, 2010. ATOC is responsible for downloading the aircraft and turning over the cargo to the Army Material Control Team at Camp Bastion. Airman Dupuy is from the 3rd Aerial Port Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nancy Hooks/Released)

Airman 1st Class Joshua McGee, Air Terminal Operations Center ramp controller, directs Staff Sgt. Daryl Tigert, driving a 10K forklift, to receive the mail off the DC8 aircraft at Camp Bastion, Jan. 20, 2010. Airman McGee is from the 3rd Aerial Port Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C., and Sergeant Tigert is from the 573rd Global Support Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nancy Hooks/Released)

ATOC Airmen move tons on Camp Bastion

Published Jan. 26, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- A team of 18 Airmen who make up the Air Terminal Operations Center are working hard to support the mission of all coalition servicemembers on Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

"We download all American C-17s, the Russian cargo planes, C-130s, and we also support the British flights and Marine flights when they need it," said Capt. Torrey Hubshman, commander of the Bastion Aerial Port. "We're just bringing all the cargo and the passengers off the aircraft to support the mission here, and then when they're ready to go home, we get them out of here."

Captain Hubshman said of the 30,000 coalition forces expected to soon arrive in Afghanistan, approximately 10,000 will land on Camp Bastion.

"That's the biggest thing," he said. "Especially considering the Marines, that's their weapons systems, Marines. They're coming in on our birds, and the gear that comes with them, we download all of that."

The team moves an average of 10,000 short tons per month and approximately 10,000 passengers a month. Those numbers, Captain Hubshman said, are usually reserved for squadrons of 150 or more, not just 18.

"We work closely with the British and Marines," he said. "They help us push pallets and we help them when they need us to take stuff off their birds. We're pretty much one team, one fight here, which is great."