Convoy mitigation - Al Asad aerial porters saving countless lives moving air cargo in Operation Iraqi Freedom Published May 31, 2007 By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Balad AB, Iraq -- Moving supplies, equipment and people from place to place in a convoy anywhere in Iraq is very risky business. Many hidden dangers such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Anti-Iraqi forces, and other such dangers lurk awaiting even the most prepared traveler. Thanks to the hard-working Airmen of the 438th Aerial Port Flight (APF) at Al Asad, many lives that might have been lost in convoy attacks have been saved. Using large vehicles like 60K and 25K 'Tonner' loaders, forklifts and a lot of skill gained from several overseas deployments, these Airmen have loading and unloading large aircraft down to a science - and they do it very quickly to keep battlefield missions on time. In fact, since the beginning of Air Expeditionary Force 5-6 in January, Airmen from the 438th APF have processed more than 32,000 passengers, 15,528 tons of cargo, and more than 2,600 aircraft keeping nearly 12,000 personnel off the roads in convoys. "Convoy mitigation is a very large part of our mission," said Capt. Robert Golenberke, commander of the 438th APF. "Our unit and one other at Al Taqadum supply all branches of our military in western Iraq through our aerial port operations." The captain deployed here from the 76th Aerial Port Squadron (APS) at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. The captain is one of eight reservists from Youngstown deployed to Al Asad for aerial port operations. "Previously, large convoys would have moved much of the equipment throughout the country, and roads around here can be very dangerous resulting in the deaths of Soldiers and Marines," the captain said. "Our guys are proud to work hard at what we do to help keep this from happening." When Soldiers and Marines identify equipment and vehicles that need to be moved, aerial port Airmen called Joint Inspectors are sent to various locations to inspect the cargo or vehicles and determine their air-worthiness for movement by aircraft. Tech. Sgt. Dana Rea, deployed here from the 30th APS at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y., enjoys his job here in Al Anbar Province in western Iraq. "It's good to work directly with the other services," he said. "They understand the importance of moving equipment safely, because they need their people and their stuff to be moved on time and in a safe manner to get their mission accomplished." The North Tonawanda, N.Y., native explained the aerial porters inspect containers for hazardous items like compressed gas bottles or fire extinguishers and then direct what needs to be done to make them safe for air transportation. Additional inspections look for items like munitions, bombs, and grenades. Finally, they weigh vehicles, measure them, find their center of balance and determine proper load configurations to move them. Ramp shift supervisor Tech. Sgt. Brian Wilms, with the 438th APF, is on his second Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) deployment. Having deployed here from the 76th APS, he equates what he's doing here in Iraq with his civilian job as a city firefighter in Salem, Ohio. "With all the heavy lift aircraft we process, we're keeping a lot of people off the roads and saving lives," he said. "With that in mind, you don't think about the long hours when you know you're keeping blood from being spilled on the ground." The Salem native has 22 years of military service. "It's exactly why a firefighter doesn't mind long hours on duty ... we're there to save lives and protect property." Working hard day and night to support OIF missions in the harsh desert climate and nighttime blackout conditions hasn't dulled the professionalism or spirit of these Airmen. "This has been one of my better deployments," said Chief Master Sgt. Rex Neff, 438th APF superintendent. "We've got people from 11 different units here working together, and their drive to succeed is unstoppable," said the chief, also deployed from Youngstown. "We couldn't have planned a better operation." With the goal of saving lives in mind, the 438th APF's Airmen press on day and night doing their part to support OIF.