Incirlik's AMS competes for AMC award

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Padden
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Incirlik's 728th Air Mobility Squadron Aerial Port Flight is one of three terminals vying for Air Mobility Command's 2007 Large Terminal of the Year award.

The 728 AMS, an Incirlik tenant unit, is competing for AMC honors as a result of winning the 2007 Large Terminal of the Year award from the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, based at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.

According to Chief Master Sgt. Paul Maynard, 728th Air Mobility Squadron Air Terminal manager, any active duty air terminal or aerial port supporting more than 10,000 cargo tons and 20,000 or more passengers during a year is eligible for the award.

During fiscal 2007, Incirlik's terminal moved more than 30,000 passengers and 162,000 tons of cargo which equates to roughly 70 percent of all air sustainment cargo sent to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Due to the number of personnel assigned and the consistent rotation of Airmen arriving and departing, Incirlik has some unique challenges when compared to other aerial ports competing in the large terminal category.

"We have 65 permanent party personnel to include Turkish Air Force and contractors, as well as more than 45 active duty, guard and reservist Airmen deployed here," said Chief Maynard. "Incirlik has a little over 100 personnel available, while other large terminals can have as many as 400."

With short tours and six month deployments, the steady flow of Airmen in and out of Incirlik can make it difficult to keep continuity up to date. Some might call that nearly impossible, but Master Sgt. Wayne Donnelly, 728 AMS Aerial Port Flight aircraft services superintendent, believes his team is up to the task.

"We push cargo through here with what we have, said Sergeant Donnelly. "When even one airmen leaves, it requires the whole team to start from scratch and still get the job done."

Capt. William Glenn, 728 AMS Officer in Charge of Aircraft Services, recognizes that the mission couldn't be done without strong NCOs and Airmen.

"Because of the short tour lengths, NCOs have to recognize training deficiencies so that the mission doesn't falter in any way, shape or form," said Captain Glenn.

One innovation created by 728th personnel to meet its training deficiencies was the introduction of the Port Pup training program.

The Port Pup training program is an innovative management tool that ensures continuity at Incirlik and played an important part in the 728 AMS taking home the group level large terminal of the year award, said Staff Sgt. James Pickel 728 AMS Air Transportation Standard Evaluation Program evaluator.

When new 728th members arrive at Incirlik they attend the two-day Port Pup course, where they receive on-the-job training to learn the specifics of the Incirlik Terminal.

"Continuity is a big struggle and the Port Pup program is the true weld that keeps us all in tune and gets the cargo to the fight," said Sergeant Pickel.

"Even though the award is aerial port specific, winning this award was not just an aerial port flight effort. It was a squadron and base effort," said Captain Glenn.

Without the help of the entire squadron and the support we get from the rest of Team Incirlik, the planes would have never left the terminal, he added. 

The 728 AMS is ready to earn the AMC award and plans to prove their mettle January 9-10 when AMC inspectors visit Incirlik to judge the terminal to see if they have what it takes to be AMC's next Large Terminal of the Year.