An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

"Port Dawgs" keep mission moving

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Spencer Gallien
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A group of 150 Airmen, working around-the-clock, currently serve as the strategic airlift hub for Air Force Central Command's inter- and intra-theater airlift in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, as well as missions in the Horn of Africa.

The aerial transporters at Air Mobility Command's 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron's aerial port, more widely known as "port dawgs," have moved more than 50,000 tons of cargo, transported roughly 117,000 passengers and worked with more than 25 Coalition and commercial aircraft in the past six months, said Tech. Sgt. Sam Aubry, 8th EAMS senior Air Terminal Operations Center controller.

The 8th EAMS aerial port staff flight members fall into one of three possible sections within the unit--air freight, operations and passenger terminal.

Air freight, which is responsible for cargo processing, ramp loading, fleet services and any special handling, moves 316 tons of cargo in an average day.

Special handling facilitates the honorable transportation of Fallen Warriors, any vaccinations transported for deployed servicemembers, munitions or vehicle movements and transportation of blood to medical facilities throughout the AOR.

On any given day, air freight porters find themselves sending anything from Mine Resistant Ambush Protective vehicles to blood for treatment of wounded warriors down-range.

Since August, Sergeant Aubry said, the transporters have sent 221 shipments--33 short tons of blood-- to help sustain warfighters supporting OEF and OIF.

Another benefit deployed members enjoy because of aerial transporters' hard-work, is receiving letters and packages from home.

"We bring mail, that servicemembers receive, down-range," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Mount, 8th EAMS Ramp Services NCO in-charge. "Much of what we do is behind the scenes, yet vital to almost every facet of the mission. From morale to mission, we're making it happen."

The aerial port operations section includes "port dawgs" who work in the ATOC providing command and control for the section.

"The ATOC works with various entities outside of the squadron to keep the mission moving," Sergeant Aubry said. "We work with anyone, from the Air Mobility Control Center to the Maintenance Operations Center, to help ensure we successfully transport all of our cargo and passengers to the appropriate locations."

The aerial port passenger terminal includes "port dawgs," who provide passenger service, baggage service and fleet control.

Airman 1st Class Rogelio Ruiz, 8th EAMS passenger service agent, said transporting passengers and providing any of the specialized services that aerial transporters perform, gives him a sense of pride.

"I'm extremely proud of the job we do here," said Airman Ruiz. "The workload is constant. We could be on the flightline for a whole 12-hour shift. No matter what the conditions are, we are out there accomplishing the mission.

"I love knowing that through my work, I reunite families, help supply the warfighter and send people back home safely," he added.

There are "port dawgs" located worldwide, working in every country to keep cargo, passengers and special-handling items moving to the right locations.

"We are one of the busiest ports in the world," said Capt. Steve Soliday, Aerial Port flight commander. "Our monthly average for cargo is currently 8,080 tons. In December, we moved a total of 12,796 tons of cargo throughout the AOR, which was our highest monthly total for 2009.

"We don't just serve the Air Force, we play a vital role for the whole Department of Defense," he added. "The porters touch every single passenger and piece of cargo moved through the military airlift system. They provide the lifeline between home station and the front-line warfighter."