News

Reservists supplement aerial port workload at military's Europe hub

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Madelyn McCullough
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Although "sticks in a bundle are unbreakable" isn't an Air Force core value, this Kenyan proverb hits the bull's-eye on exceptional teamwork playing an indispensable role in fulfilling the mission.

To optimize mission success, more than 30 Reservists from McChord Field's 446th Airlift Wing in Washington, made the 11-hour excursion here, July 12 to complete their annual training.

About 20 of the citizen airmen are from the wing's 36th Aerial Port Squadron, whose sole purpose is to progress in tasks they can't normally accomplish during drill weekends.

"With our mission, the amount of training that we get at McChord can be lackluster," said Maj. John Dyson, 36th APS interim commander. "Sometimes it's not as busy as it can be for other bases."

Because of the high-operations tempo and diverse mission requirements, Ramstein is an ideal place for aerial port specialists to enhance their job competencies.

"You have medical missions, troop movement and all sorts of cargo," said Senior Master Sgt. Ron Rupright, 36th APS team chief during the training. "It's not just pallets; its stuff going in and out of theater. The diversity is what seals the deal."

Rupright said airmen of all duty areas within the aerial port can train in the different skill sets they need at Ramstein.

"These types of bases cater to that training that we normally would not get within a two week period during our annual tour back at McChord," Dyson said. "It's imperative that we have that opportunity to travel to them."

Along with training in skills they normally don't have the resources for, the Reservists are working side-by-side with the active-duty, Reservists from the 88th Aerial Port Squadron, out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, and civilian workers. This aspect of learning to work with others supports another part of their training.

"Some of our Reservists have been around each other for years, and they know each other's tendencies," Rupright said. "When you come to another base and fill in, it's a different perspective. You have to step back, and it forces you to really develop your personnel skills and your training skills."

As an example, an airman noticed minimal communication between groups that haven't worked together before on his first day.

"I think the other Reserve unit is a little bit more to themselves," said Staff Sgt. Wyndell Bagaoisan, 36th APS. "Though we get the job done, we can always be more efficient through better communication. It's definitely something we should work on a little bit more."

According to Dyson, it's important to develop these skills so that airmen are ready when they are called to deploy.

"The integration of two Reserve units and an active-duty unit is very similar to what you see in a deployed environment," he said. "This is the time that they need to be really working with that active-duty counterpart - in that real world environment - so when they're called, they're ready."

Bagaoisan is taking the training as another learning experience.

"I expected us to face some challenges, and it's already been happening today since it's the first day," he said. "But I think we'll get better tomorrow, and by the end of the two weeks, we'll be better and more proficient at processing cargo. That I can say for sure."

Though the joint training may seem beneficial only to Reservists, the commander of the 721st Aerial Port Squadron, host to the 36th APS, believes the joint training is beneficial to active duty as well.

"Reserve teams are extremely helpful," said Lt. Col. Melvin Maxwell, 721st APS commander. "In our career field, 65 percent of our efforts come from Guard and Reserve. When they come here, they get the opportunity to get hands on touches so that when they're deployed, they're ready to go. It's crucial to our ability."

Training together allows airmen to share ideas from various backgrounds.

"As much as you're going to learn, you're going to teach everybody something new," Rupright said.

After all, it's one team, one fight in theater.

"We can come in seamlessly as a Reserve unit to augment and to backfill any active duty at that same level of experience and technical expertise," Dyson said. "It's really a seamless coverage for the mission."

In the end, the goal is to keep that bundle of sticks as strong as it has always been once Reserve forces take over.