AMXS, LRS swarm to flight

by Senior Airman Desiree Economides
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/8/2013 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- As bees work succinctly to collect flower nectar to make honey, Airmen work together during readiness week to provide professional airlift support for Yokota Air Base, Japan.

A simulated deployment order propelled Airmen from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to prepare cargo and aircraft Oct. 7.

"This exercise is testing our abilities to generate and support our operational capabilities," said Capt. Philip Warthen, 374 LRS installation deployment officer. "Regardless of the area of responsibility, every deployment requires personnel and cargo so we are testing our abilities to generate them quickly."

Mobilizing a wing requires the collaboration of many units to gather equipment and personnel, all of which come through LRS. Equipment specifically moved through the cargo deployment section before moving onto its deployed location.

Meanwhile on the other side of the flight line, AMXS is a buzz preparing the fleet for flight.

"Our job is to make sure planes are safe for flight and prepared for the mission," said 1st Lt. Ralph Toms, 374 AMXS.

Aircraft undergo a tip-to-tail inspection where any issues are identified and coordinated by the aircraft manager to be fixed by maintenance back shops. Maintainers also equip the aircraft with armor and munitions for their mission and ensure the aircraft is configured for cargo.

"Once we know when cargo will be delivered we make sure the aircraft is ready for when it arrives," said Senior Master Sgt. Gregory Lilly, 374 AMXS.

When AMXS finally has completed equipping the aircraft, LRS delivers the cargo to the plane and works with the loadmaster to make final preparations. Without the cooperative work of LRS and AMXS, people, cargo and aircraft could be in a sticky situation.

"It's important the cargo is configured and documented correctly," said Tech. Sgt. Todd Bergin, 36th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "Otherwise crews could experience anything from a delay in flight to an assortment of in flight emergencies."

Bergin added, "I have 100 percent faith in our maintenance and logistics teams."