Briefing on 2T2X1 Air Transportation

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, there were more than 300,000 people deployed to Southwest Asia to support the operation. The majority of them flew over on AMC or AMC contracted aircraft. It was the Aerial Port that put those passengers and equipment on the right aircraft and ensured that the movement was safe. Good morning ladies and gentlemen, my name is TSgt James and im going to be giving you an informational speech on the 2T2 Air Transportation career field. I will be talking to you about the Air Transportation career field (such as; passenger service and cargo processing), Airlift (such as; the users and our responsibilities), Rapid Global Mobility (such as; responding to a crisis and supporting a crisis), and Force Protection and counter chemical warfare (such as; passenger terminal security and decontaminating cargo). Let’s first take a look at the passenger service aspect of the Air Transportation career field. Passenger service agents review passenger travel authorizations for validity and accuracy. They check in passengers, process, schedule, transport, and escort passengers to and from the aircraft. They will establish procedures for passenger and aircraft clearance through international border clearance agencies. Review border clearance requirements and procedures for the US, its territories and possessions and foreign border clearance. Also, they will operate terminal security equipment, and conduct passenger and baggage security inspections. Passenger service is only one side of the air transportation career field. Now let’s look at the other side which is cargo processing. Cargo processors will ensure all cargo documentation, packaging, labeling and marking requirements, and all border clearance requirements have been met on all outbound missions. Next, they will determine quantity and type of cargo to be loaded according to allowable aircraft cabin load. After that is completed, they will preplan and compute aircraft load distribution. Then they select, assemble, palletize, and transport aircraft cargo loads to the aircraft. On inbound aircraft they will check cargo against inbound manifests, and annotate overage (wasn’t on manifest), shortage (was on manifest, but didn’t arrive), or damaged. Of course we will supervise use of materials handling equipment and cargo loading and unloading operations. Now that you have some understanding of the Air Transportation career field, let’s look at the Air and Space Power Function of Airlift and the deploying unit’s responsibilities. Airlift plays a major role in wining conflicts. Everyone has roles in keeping Airlift safe. The units deploying are responsible for preparing passengers and cargo in accordance with the Defense Travel Regulation 4500.9. Prepare and certify aircraft load plans, hazardous cargo and equipment. Provide trained load teams to load, off-load, and secure cargo to the aircraft. Furnish any shoring, dunnage, and vehicle operators. They also prepare personnel and cargo electronic manifests and provide them to the Aerial Port during the Joint Inspection. While the unit has responsibilities when deploying, so does the Aerial Port. Aerial porter’s responsibilities consist of validating all load plans, cargo and passenger manifests. Provide technical assistance to units being airlifted on preparing cargo and passengers for airlift. Coordinate airflow information and control airlift aircraft and any mission support load teams that may be involved. In conjunction with the deploying unit and A/DACG, coordinate the inspection of cargo offered for airlift to ensure it is movement ready. Provide MHE and operators when MHE is not available to the unit being transported or to the airfield operator. As you can see everyone has a responsibility in the Airlift process, you can use that to understand how we contribute to Rapid Global Mobility while responding to a crisis. When crisis arise, there are a few things we need to do to accomplish our part in responding to the crisis. Usually we will move to 12 hours shifts, so we can meet the manning requirements. We will stand up a Cargo Deployment Function (CDF) and a Passenger Deployment Function (PDF). The units that are tasked to deploy to a crisis, will process through our deployment functions. Within a matter of hours we can have personnel and cargo heading to the geographic location of the crisis. After responding to a crisis, we will need to support that crisis. Supporting a crisis is a lot different than responding to a crisis. Since there is cargo and personnel in place, we do not need to have supplies and personnel rushed to that area. Cargo and personnel will go from port to port and may sit in a port for a few days. Of course you will have those critical items that will need to be moved to the area much quicker than other items. These items are labeled as triple 9 and will be put in as priority 1. The Distinctive Capability Rapid Global Mobility is about getting us there, but what do we do about force protection while there? There are few things that passenger terminals do to contribute to force protection. Passenger terminals mandate a single point of entry with metal detectors and x-ray machines. These metal detectors and x-ray machines will be inspected and calibrated every 30 days. They also ensure 100% identification check to enter the terminal. Passenger terminals will also have sterile areas for passenger holding prior to boarding the aircraft. Buses will be parked in secured parking lots and all keys will be placed in the passenger service dispatch office. They will also create random anti-terrorism measures (RAMS). According to AMCI 24-101v24, “Possible RAMs include; patrols around the building, use of military working dogs to search baggage/packages, and physical searches of baggage/packages, and use of trace explosives detection equipment.” Any time we execute any RAMS, we will document them. That was a few examples of the passengers terminals part in force protection, now let me tell you about cargo decontamination under counter chemical warfare. Aerial Porters have a couple options when it comes to combating chemical warfare. When in an area where chemicals are possible, we will cover palletized cargo with two pallet covers. Prior to loading cargo on aircraft, we will remove the top cover that has the chemical on it. Rolling stock (such as; vehicles, trailers, or anything with wheels) will be placed under hangers, or in warehouses. If they do get contaminated, we will wash them with a 5% bleach solution, eliminating the chemical. That was just a couple examples of how the Aerial Port participates in counter chemical warfare. I have just spent the past few minutes talking to you about the Air Transportation career field (such as; passenger service and cargo processing), Airlift (such as; the users and our responsibilities), Rapid Global Mobility (such as; responding to a crisis and supporting a crisis), and Force Protection and counter chemical warfare (such as; passenger terminal security and decontaminating cargo). As you can see, without the Air Transportation career field it would very difficult to complete the Air Forces mission. We are here to make sure you get to your destination in the most expeditious manor and as safely as possible. Students of O-flight, this concludes my briefing. Are there any questions?