Airmen, Soldiers conduct joint training in Sunflower State

by Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

11/22/2013 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis Airmen from the 21st Airlift Squadron and Soldiers from the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan., took part in a Joint Air Force Army Training Nov. 13, at Manhattan Regional Airport in Manhattan, Kan.

Working alongside one another, the off-station trainer provided training for Soldiers and Airmen on loading and unloading procedures for rapid deployment readiness, said Capt. Chad Dugie, 21st AS C-17 Globemaster III aircraft commander.

"The OST provided a training environment for 21st AS loadmasters that had recently graduated C-17A initial qualification," said Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Pickens, 21st AS C-17 instructor loadmaster. "It also provided them an opportunity to work, supervise and explain the loading, offloading and restraining procedures for the C-17 with approximately 30 Army service members."

The training also benefitted some of the younger Airmen, he said.

"Four of the six loadmasters were recent graduates from technical school," Pickens said. "During the training, each of the loadmasters were assigned a specific cargo load to direct and supervise the upload and download."

According to Pickens, the training also proved valuable for Staff Sgt. Christopher Clay, 21st AS C-17 loadmaster.

"This mission gave him an opportunity to teach a few of our younger Airmen how to direct and supervise the loading of some cargo that we normally don't get to see," Pickens said.

Together, the crews loaded and unloaded an M1A2 Abrams tank, a self-propelled howitzer, an OH-58D Kiowa helicopter and two Humvees.

"The mission was very successful for everyone involved," Pickens said. "Our loadmasters were able to spend an extended amount of time working with the Army and explaining in detail how to upload and download specific cargo."