Pallet training prepares 916th Airmen for next inspection

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Lopedote
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  A place for everything and everything in its place. This is the lesson cargo loading gurus from the 71st Aerial Port Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va., shared with members from the 916th Air Refueling Wing earlier this year.

Persons from the wing identified as increment monitors or assigned to pallet build-up and quick-fix teams, received hands-on training on such things as positioning equipment on pallets, securing cargo and proper documentation of cargo.

The visiting instructors also passed along some helpful tips to expedite a unit's deploying assets through the marshalling yard.

"Things like a delaminated or dirty pallet can frustrate cargo at the yard," said Master Sgt. Kevin A. Ward, 71st APS team leader. "Even small things like a cobweb or not having the required number of shipper's declaration copies can slow down the processing for deploying equipment."

The special skills brought by the aerial porters were greatly needed to better prepare the wing's pallet build-up teams for upcoming inspections, said Tech. Sgt. Michael F. Binda, 916th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"Cargo processing has kind of been an issue the last couple of exercises," he said. "Who better than aerial port to teach us how to do cargo? These guys are the duty experts."

Binda said he called on the aerial porters to come teach cargo classes because of the good working relationship the 916th ARW had with the 71st APS when the two units participated the Operational Readiness Inspection in 2011.

In addition, the 77th Air Refueling Squadron was able to use the cargo experts' presence to facilitate their own cargo loading evaluations.

"We had several boom operators that needed cargo check rides," said Master Sgt. Steve R. Stanton, 77th ARS. "With the 71st being here, we were able to get them all signed off on that task."