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380AEW Article

Airmen build partnerships through transportation support at Dubai Airshow 2011

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chance Babin
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  A small team of forward deployed Airmen from the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron is charged with handling all transportation matters for Department of Defense personnel at the Dubai Airshow 2011, which kicked off Nov. 13.

The team was responsible for arranging transportation of support equipment to and from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing and setting up the shuttle service to move approximately 300 DOD and civilian personnel to and from the air show and separate events.

"It's definitely a challenge trying to get a schedule down," said Tech. Sgt. David Morales, the transportation coordinator for the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. "All the lodging locations and the air show are geographically separated. I've had help from all the other agencies that are here to support me."

Additionally, the team downloaded support equipment Nov. 4, 2011, that was flown in from the 380th AEW on a C-17 Globemaster III. The 380th ELRS Airmen helped download the aircraft and organized the equipment, such as aerospace ground equipment, a forklift and utility vehicles, in the maintenance area of the air show.  .

While Morales and his team of three vehicle operators and two air terminal operations controllers understand their role in providing transportation for the regional event, they recognized they are part of something much bigger.

"The magnitude of this air show is very interesting," said Morales, a San Antonio, Texas native. "It's all about building relationships with our allies and showing them we are willing to work beside them and we are committed to helping them out."

For Morales, working the Dubai Airshow gave him an opportunity to work with people from all over the map.

"It's good to see all the different agencies and units come together and work together," said Morales, who is deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. "It's pretty cool to work alongside them and not only represent the 380th, but the Air Force as a whole."

Participation in the Dubai Airshow enables the U.S. military to cultivate partnerships with military members from countries in our coalition as well as industry professionals to ensure we share a common framework for developing capabilities, according to officials from U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

The Dubai Airshow is internationally acclaimed as the third largest air show in the world and the premier aviation and air industry event in the gulf region. DOD participation in the event is one way the U.S. and its allies and partners work together to promote security, stability and mutual interests in the region, Air Force officials said.

This year, the U.S. is showcasing a variety of military aircraft at the event to highlight the wide range of capabilities of U.S. military air power.