New procedure brings benefits to Incirlik Cargo Movement

  • Published
  • By SSgt Michael Jackson
  • AFNEWS Det. 7
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  To support the war fighter, the Air Force must move cargo, such as computer equipment and spare parts for aircraft, around the globe. Some of this cargo has to be shipped with special packaging instructions. If the crates carrying this equipment become damaged, they must be repaired or replaced.

At Incirlik, the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Cargo Movement flight used to contract this work out to local vendors. Now, they fabricate their own crates, using a variety of saws and other tools.

The change became official last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the flight's industrial area. Speaking at the ceremony, 39th Mission Support Group commander, Colonel Jeffrey Hanson said this new procedure will bring enormous benefits to the unit and the entire Air Force.

"If we asked someone else to build these pallets for us, it would cost about $25 a piece. Now, we can do it for $8 a piece. If you go over the number of pallets you're making, we're saving the Air Force a little less than $15,000 per year. And that's just one thing you're able to do with the capability we have here today."

"We also know logistics is transforming in the Air Force," Colonel Hanson added. "Having this capability is a part of that. We're able to make things happen faster and move our Air Force logistics into the twenty-first century."

The crate fabrication procedure will also allow cargo movement's Airmen to acquire vital skills to use when they deploy.

"The bottom line is, this makes our young Airmen employable downrange because they'll be required to work with this equipment when they get there," said Tech Sgt. Courtney Pierre, cargo movement NCO in charge. "This really gives them valuable training that they'll need."

The ceremony concluded with a demonstration of part of the crate fabrication process. Flight members loaded a C-17 Globemaster III brake into the crate, and the final nail was driven in, making it ready for shipment.