News

86th Aerial Porters deploy to Kirkuk

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Moody
  • 446th Airlift Wing, Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  About 19 Reservists from the 86th Aerial Port Squadron deployed in September to support an Air Expeditionary Force rotation to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq. The Reservists are attached to the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Beyond the 100 plus degree heat, what challenges the aerial porters most is also what gives them the most pride - getting people where they need to go.

"The biggest thing for us is rest and relaxation passengers," said Master Sergeant Marshall Stokoe, 86th APS. "We make sure we get them out because it's important."

Although in country for little more than a month, the team from the 86th APS has already supported moving more than 1,000 passengers and an estimated 200,000 pounds of cargo. Among the deployed Reservists is Senior Airman Daniel Henderson, an air freight apprentice, 86th APS.

"I'm gaining a lot of experience," said Airman Henderson. "I'm able to do a lot more work with that experience."

Along with gaining experience for some of the aerial porters first deployment, the overall morale is high.

"The team is doing great," said Master Sergeant Dale Wenstad, 86th APS here, currently assigned as the Kirkuk Air Terminal superintendent. "All the training and preparation we did before we left really paid off."

The aerial porters are expected to return to McChord Field in spring 2011.