Port Dawgs ship help

by Staff Sgt. Christopher Carranza
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

7/3/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 60th Aerial Port Squadron recently shipped more than 14,000 pounds of donated humanitarian relief supplies to Afghanistan as part of a Denton Program shipment.

The Denton Program's objective is to put the empty space on U.S. military transport to good use by providing humanitarian relief transportation for nongovernmental organizations or private citizens, at little or no cost to them.

The donor organizations for this shipment plan to have their goods distributed to the Afghan people in and around Kabul, Afghanistan.

Among the materials donated were clothing for people of all ages, fabrics, footwear, dishes, pots, pans, bowls, cups, bedding, toys and food.

"This is the second Denton shipment I have dealt with and it makes me feel great," said Tech. Sgt. Martin Moya, 60th APS NCO in charge of inbound logistics. "After doing some research on my own and finding out what this program is about, it fills me with great pride knowing these donations are from the American people."

"I really believe a shipment like this establishes faith and changes the perception of Americans from another country's point of view for the good," Moya said. "This reinforces the big picture and it convinces Airmen we are not just moving a box from A to B, but resources and help to those in need."

The Port Dawgs inspect and palletize the donated goods in a short amount of time in preparation for movement. Two of the Airmen palletizing this shipment were Senior Airman Jacob Peterson and Airman 1st Class Jacob Siluano, both 60th APS airfreight operators.

For Peterson, this was his fourth Denton shipment.

"It is important we get these goods out," Peterson said. "I feel very proud helping people and when these types of shipments come, I feel very grateful for the job we do."

This was Siluano's first Denton shipment.

"I feel great knowing that these goods are going to people who are in need, it's a great experience and feeling," Siluano said.

The shipment of goods weighed more than 14,000 pounds and had an approximate value of 16,000 dollars. The goods are shipped via space-available, meaning all mission- essential materials have first priority.