332D AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING -- Everything that comes in and out of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing on an aircraft is processed by the 332d Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Aerial Port section.
The different flights within Aerial Port, such as the Air Terminal Operation Center, load planning, ramp, cargo, and passenger services, work in concert to coordinate movement of aircraft, passengers, equipment, and everything else requiring air travel.
“ATOC is the brains of Aerial Port,” said Technical Sgt. Gilbert Carrera, 332d ELRS ATOC information controller. “Whenever the airport needs something, they call us and we coordinate to direct the information, track communication and inform leadership about what we're doing.”
Every flight in or out of the 332d AEW requires extensive coordination. For example, some flight plans can take weeks to fully and accurately arrange.
“When a shipper wants to bring something in, they go through cargo,” said Staff Sgt. Macrino Diaz, 332d ELRS passenger services lead. “If it's a special type of cargo, the shipper goes to special handling. Cargo and special handling inspect the cargo and the cargo team builds the pallet. Load planners inspect the pallet, checking that weights and labels are correct to make a load plan to see where the pallets go on the aircraft. Once that’s all approved the plan goes to ATOC, who disseminates the information. ATOC then gives the info to the ramp team so they have the cargo sequences loaded, ensuring everything goes on in the right order. Passenger services does something similar to move people. Last, we let ATOC know the times and they forward that information. All of these sections work diligently to ensure seamless operations.”
Every section of Aerial Port performs a vital role in providing the wing with air transportation, which allows the 332d AEW to maintain its role of providing regional security throughout the area of responsibility.
“We all work in line with each other,” said Technical Sgt. Jason Dixon, 332d ELRS Aerial Port supervisor. “We have our maneuvers, processors, coordinators, and inspectors. ATOC collects and disseminates all that information so that everyone will know and can do what they need to.”
The 332d ELRS provides sustainment operations that enable the 332d AEW to conduct its mission to generate, execute, and sustain combat airpower.
“Everybody knows their job, so we all work together seamlessly,” said Technical Sgt. Freddy Torres, 332d ELRS special handling and joint inspection noncommissioned officer in charge. “There's a ton of coordination and many checks-and-balances to make sure everything on a flight is good. We have our different sections but at the end of the day, we all have the same mission: to put cargo and people on aircraft or take them off aircraft safely.”