436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
1/22/2013 - Dover Air Force Base, Del. -- Thanks to their superior performance in direct mission support, innovative management and quality of life programs, the 436th Aerial Port Squadron recently took home the Air Mobility Command Large Terminal Unit of the Year award for 2012.
"Winning the award means that our mission, and our men and women of the aerial port, were superior performers within AMC, and the preponderance of the air mobility mission that was supporting the war was worked right here through Dover," said Maj. Jimmy Hendrix, 436th Aerial Port Squadron operations officer.
AMC recognized the Super Port for their operational excellence and community involvement. Dover competed against several other bases including Joint Base Charleston, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
"I think that one of the things that separated us this year was there were a lot of initiatives that were undertaken to improve efficiencies," said Jim Ewing, AMC Logistics Readiness Senior Civilian of the Year and terminal operations manager with the 436th Aerial Port Squadron.
Ewing has been with the aerial port since 1987 and attests to the large work load Dover continuously undertakes each year along with the efficiencies tested in 2012.
"Dover was at the tip of the spear in testing efficiency enhancements. I think we were involved in three different proof of principles in 2012 and because we get involved like that, we're setting the way for the future. I think that probably stood out more than anything in this past year," said Ewing.
The primary mission of the aerial port squadron is the safe and efficient cargo and passenger processing for multi-modal movements to support global operations by properly training, equipping and deploying personnel.
"What that means is that we have the most innovative aerial port in the Air Force where our personnel are the best trained. Doing what we do here to ensure that the cargo is moving. Our short-term vision and mission is doing it safely, by the book, on time and with a smile. We love our job, so doing it with a smile is easy," said Hendrix.
The port processes a plethora of cargo consisting of anything from rations to medical supplies. They feed their cargo to six C-5M Super Galaxy's and 13 C-17 Globemaster III's capable of delivering supplies to oversea locations.
"Because it's an everyday channel mission, it's anything and everything, so we have no way to project what might be coming in and what might be needed in the theater from day to day. We know there are armor kits, like they put on the vehicles, and body armor is consumed by the service members, so those types of consumables. Rations, medical supplies, rubbing alcohol, parts and equipments for batteries. The best way to describe it is anything consumed by service members is what moves through here," said Ewing.
The channel mission played a role in their selection for the Large Unit Terminal of the Year award. Seventy percent of all scheduled channel cargo going to Afghanistan transits the Super Port.
"Regardless if we win an award or not, we continuously challenge ourselves to improve the processes we perform every day. We consider ourselves award winners every year whether we bring it or not. It's a way of life, but we just pride ourselves in doing it every day. We have a lot of passionate people. It starts with the commander and works its way down to the Airmen. They take pride in what they do," said Ewing.
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