Teamwork is focus during runway closure

  • Published
  • By Lori Burling Alves
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  During the nearly two-month closure of Incirlik's runway, dozens of Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron will travel to different locations to continue aiding in cargo operations.

Two-thirds of 728 AMS members will stay at Incirlik, however to train, prepare for an upcoming inspection and work on team building.

"We're going to take this time to catch up on training and get ready for an upcoming inspection. Equipment will still be available for us to train with, and we're going to be getting the majority of personnel cross trained in various tasks and on different equipment," said Lt. Col. Joseph Angel, 728 AMS commander. "We're going to work on self-help projects around the area and build teamwork and camaraderie within the office, with Team Incirlik, and our families."

Incirlik's runway will be closed March 9 - April 22 --shutting down the Patriot Express and cargo operations.

The 10,000-foot runway will undergo routine repairs to damaged concrete and to the sealant between the concrete slabs.

With nearly 300 military and civilian members, the 728 AMS will be the Incirlik unit most affected by the closure.

"The bread and butter of what we do is provide support to the global air system, meaning we generate sorties and move cargo and passengers from one location to another," said Colonel Angel. "The air mobility en route system provides the foundation for United States power projection."

The 728 AMS cargo hub supplies more than 70 percent of the air sustainment relief to Iraq. The cargo includes sustainment material and equipment for 'downrange' locations.
During normal operations, commercial wide body aircraft touch down on Incirlik's runway every day. Members of the 728 AMS team are responsible for offloading the cargo and re-loading it onto C-17 aircraft which will transport the goods to multiple sites in Iraq.

Although 728 AMS will not be loading planes and generating sorties during the runway closure, much-needed supplies will still flow 'downrange.'

"We're going to seamlessly continue that mission," said Colonel Angel. "The transition will be transparent to personnel in Iraq."

All cargo and planes will relocate to two different locations outside of Turkey during the six-week closure. The cargo will be loaded and shipped from those sites. Additionally, approximately 25 active-duty military members and 90 temporary duty personnel supporting the 728 AMS will also relocate to the new cargo areas.

"Several of our permanent party personnel will relocate to these sites to aide in the cargo and personnel shipments," said Colonel Angel.

The plan is for the last C-17 to take off from Incirlik to transport the last of the cargo pallets and military personnel to Iraq, and continue to the new location to set up, said Colonel Angel.

The move will leave approximatley 180 active duty and civilian AMS personnel at Incirlik. During this time, those men and women will prepare for the wing's En Route Readiness Inspection scheduled to occur in August. The inspection will focus on unit compliance, operational readiness, and ability to survive and operate.

Without aircraft on the flightline, 728 AMS maintainers will spend their time enhancing their careers by attending various training schools.
Most importantly, says Colonel Angel, the AMS team is going to take some time to build relationships within the office and at home with their families. Because the cargo hub and manning of the Patriot Express is a 24-hour operation, many of the AMS military members do not routinely receive time off on holidays and 'down days.' For that reason, Colonel Angel says this is the when his team will receive those days off.

Members of the unit have planned a golf tournament and the 728 AMS Spouses Club has organized a Grudge Cup, a day geared around sports activities.

"We'll be gainfully employed," said Colonel Angel. "But we're going to take some time off to take care of our Airmen, their families and focus on building camaraderie."