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TMO Airmen keep shipments moving

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Bowcock
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Members of the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron make a daunting task seem easy - processing massive amounts of mail through the Rock to its final destination.

Airmen sort and distribute approximately 150 thousand pounds of small packages each month from multiple mail carriers. These packages can range from an office chair to aircraft parts; anything required to get the mission accomplished and it all happens here.

"Approximately 50 to 60 thousand pounds of mail are distributed forward throughout the area of responsibility each month," said Master Sgt. Travis Griffin, 386th ELRS cargo NCO in charge. "General cargo items are then rerouted through FedEx while mission capable items are sent through Air Mobility Command to ensure those items reach their destination in a timely manner."

The transportation management office has a large responsibility being the hub of operations for some of the forward bases throughout the AOR. It is imperative that they ensure the safe inspection, sorting and sending out of all packages that are processed here.

Because of increased threats and high security measures, mail is collected outside the walls of the base. Although coordination to pick up packages may take extra time, these Airmen understand its importance. Transportation management office personnel are the only authorized individuals to bring these small package items through the gate. From that point, they synchronize their efforts with security forces, stated Griffin, who deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, to ensure a flawless inspection process.

Once the packages are inspected and cleared, they are taken to the large TMO warehouse on base. There, Airmen spend many hours each day separating all the packages for their respective destinations - The Rock or another location in Southwest Asia.

From Saturday through Thursday, averages of 70 to 100 packages are processed each day.

Senior Airman Adam Williams, 386th ELRS traffic management journeyman, is one of those Airmen ensuring packages are delivered expediently.

"My job brings me a sense of satisfaction knowing I am helping to bring the fight to the enemy," said Williams, who deployed here from 6th LRS, MacDill Air Force Base and is an Atlanta, Georgia native. "I play a part in ensuring other military members across all services are getting what they need to accomplish their mission."

Griffin, who deployed from the 35th LRS, Misawa Air Base, Japan, has 13 Airmen spanning four different career fields working for him to ensure this mission critical job is completed without fail.

"My Airmen are amazing and they are a great group of guys," said Griffin. "Coming together to learn new processes and working in different sections has been a struggle, but we dedicated ourselves to training and we have been able to overcome any learning curves and move forward with our job. Everyone here has learned a lot working with each other and I couldn't be more proud."